Chapter 355 - 349 Temporary Pause
Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Mi were fiercely battling, as her spear darted swiftly towards his head, piercing seven or eight times in succession. Wang Mi evaded them all, and his blade was equally swift, slashing down as Zhao Hanzhang parried with her spear. Her horse approached deftly, a glint flashing in her eyes, and with a sudden move, she reached out to grab Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang was slightly startled, but she did not panic. Once he grabbed her wrist, she moved with the momentum towards him, using a skillful twist of the spear to neutralize the strength of his blade. Then she decisively abandoned her spear, letting it fall to the ground, and with both hands grabbed Wang Mi, intending to pull him down from the horse.
She was inevitably falling from the horse, so she decided they might as well both fall together.
The two fell from their horses, rolling on the ground. Wang Mi could not comprehend how she could be so agile. As soon as they hit the ground, she attacked him with her elbow. He felt a numbing pain in his arm, a soreness in his chest, causing his grip on his blade to loosen slightly. Zhao Hanzhang seized the opportunity to strike him several times in the waist and abdomen, swiftly freeing herself from his hold, and rolled away in an attempt to escape...
Wang Mi would not allow her to leave, and with strength still in his left hand, he pounced like a leopard...
Qiu Wu and others sensed something was wrong when she fell and rushed towards her, but the Xiongnu immediately intercepted, and both sides engaged in a fierce battle just a few paces from them.
Fu Tinghan realized he couldn’t break through, so he simply drew his bow and shot arrows...
Wang Mi sensed danger, quickly withdrew his hand, and rolled on the ground. In the instant he rolled aside, an arrow struck the spot where he had just been lying.
Zhao Hanzhang spun around and got up, dodging a slashing blade like a top, then skillfully disarmed it with an elbow and wrist grab, slashing the enemy’s throat with the seized blade. Blood splattered, even reaching her as she stood to the side...
Without pause, she killed the two approaching Xiongnu soldiers, while the rest were drawn away by Qiu Wu and the others, leaving only Wang Mi and Zhao Hanzhang in the center of the battlefield.
Zhao Hanzhang lifted her eyes to Wang Mi, and after a moment of calm, she smiled slightly and said, "You come from an aristocratic family, proficient in both literary and martial arts. With the glory of your ancestors and your abilities, you could have achieved something in the Great Jin. I’m curious, why did you choose to become a traitor?"
Wang Mi, gripping his broadsword, could still feel the pain beneath his ribs. Clearly, Zhao Hanzhang was unlike other women, and he dared not underestimate her any longer, "The Jin State is unjust, the emperor foolish, and the people live in misery. I rebel for the people!"
Zhao Hanzhang sneered, "For the people? You pillage everywhere, kill, and burn for the people? How many common people died inside and outside Anling because of your plunder? How many cities have you destroyed in the Jizhou region?"
"If the Jin State couldn’t contain you, can Liu Yuan’s Han Kingdom truly keep you? Wang Mi, what is your ultimate goal?"
A harsh light flashed in Wang Mi’s eyes, his killing intent surging, "Your words are indeed cunning, but Your Majesty trusts me implicitly. You’ve used the wrong tactic trying to sow discord!"
Zhao Hanzhang tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Is that so?"
Both moved at the same time, charging towards each other—
Wang Mi’s blade narrowly sliced past Zhao Hanzhang’s ear, trimming a lock of hair, while her blade cut through his armor. Their weapons clashed, and after the strike, they retreated momentarily.
Wang Mi’s gaze landed on her sword, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, "You’re about to lose."
Zhao Hanzhang glanced indifferently at the nicked blade in her hand and tugged at the corner of her mouth, "Although your swords are rubbish, it doesn’t mean I will lose."
Just as Wang Mi was about to speak, Fu Tinghan, along with Qiu Wu and others, had fought their way out of the encirclement. Grabbing the spear planted in the ground, he hurled it towards Zhao Hanzhang, "Hanzhang!"
Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head, leaped up to catch it, and Wang Mi’s eyes narrowed. He disregarded propriety and charged at her directly.
In mid-air, Zhao Hanzhang caught her spear, sliced downward to block Wang Mi’s blade, and then kicked towards him, landing on his shoulder. Taking advantage of the force, she agilely twisted her body in mid-air, landed steadily, and shook her spear, immediately advancing towards Wang Mi.
Fu Tinghan shouted loudly, "Their forces are regrouping to the east!"
Zhao Hanzhang, fighting as she commanded, "Third and Fourth Squadrons, maneuver eastward and then attack westward to support Liu Jing!"
The soldiers received their orders and departed.
Fu Tinghan reined in his horse, took out his bow, and calmly aimed at Wang Mi. However, Wang Mi moved swiftly, engaged with Zhao Hanzhang in fierce combat. Their bodies frequently interwoven, and Fu Tinghan wasn’t able to aim. Instead, he targeted those attempting to support Wang Mi.
Qiu Wu and the others wanted to advance and rescue Zhao Hanzhang, while Wang Mi’s men also wanted to support Wang Mi, but the mixed battle prevented anyone from getting close.
Fu Tinghan realized this wasn’t a solution. After missing with two arrows, he focused his attention on Zhao Hanzhang.
War is never just the business of two generals. At present, they are evenly matched in skill. Wang Mi can’t kill Zhao Hanzhang, and Zhao Hanzhang can’t kill Wang Mi. Continuing the fight would only waste time.
Since they couldn’t decide victory in a one-on-one, they should make the decision through command.
Fu Tinghan made a quick decision, kicked his horse’s sides to charge forward, and when Zhao Hanzhang was pushed back repeatedly by Wang Mi’s kick, he whipped her horse’s rump.
The horse, which had been stepping in place since its rider fell, suddenly felt the sting and charged towards Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang, knocked back by Wang Mi’s kick to her spear’s shaft, heard the horse coming and without looking askew, retreated two more steps. As the horse dashed in front of her, she leapt onto it.
Zhao Hanzhang pulled the reins, turned, and thrust her spear at Wang Mi. Under her attack, Wang Mi retreated continuously, dodging but still getting stabbed in the arm.
Seeing this, his followers threw themselves desperately into battle with Qiu Wu and others, quickly opening a gap. A soldier on a fast horse rushed forward, grabbing Wang Mi to pull him onto his horse.
Zhao Hanzhang, showing no chivalry, relentlessly thrust her spear towards Wang Mi’s vital spots.
Wang Mi spun nimbly on the horse, simultaneously pulling a close guard in front of him, and Zhao Hanzhang’s spear pierced the guard’s chest.
Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, "Impressive tactics, General Wang!"
Wang Mi, already seated on the horse, showed little change in expression, "It’s Governor Zhao’s generous instruction!"
Zhao Hanzhang heard the cries of battle coming from the west and saw the regrouping forces converging westwards. Knowing she couldn’t delay there any longer, she momentarily abandoned pursuing Wang Mi and shouted, "Soldiers, follow me to support General Liu!"
She then led her forces toward the west!
The Third and Fourth Squadrons followed orders, charging to the east and scattering the regrouped troops. They deftly moved to the west, trying to reassemble and provide support, but Zhao Hanzhang led her forces to crush them directly.
Liu Ling, seeing this, was greatly worried. He rushed over with his guards to support Wang Mi, "General, what should we do?"
Wang Mi, clenching his right shoulder, calmly said, "The Jin Army’s morale is high. It’s not wise to have a direct confrontation right now. We will retreat!"
Wang Mi immediately organized the army to abandon Anling and flee.
Though they were fleeing, he retreated with calm composure. Seeing this, Fu Tinghan said to Zhao Hanzhang, "He’s heading towards Chen County. He might intend to abandon Anling to seize Chen County."
Zhao Hanzhang, who had just captured Anling, nodded, "I know, he wants to cut off my retreat. This round seems like he lost, but until the end, it’s never clear who has truly won or lost."
Qiu Wu, listening beside, worriedly asked, "What should we do, my lady? We haven’t set any posts along the way."
"Even if we set posts, we wouldn’t be able to hold them. Leaving people there would just be sending them to their deaths," Zhao Hanzhang said nonchalantly, "We never intended to go back anyway. Send a message to Chen County, ordering them to hold firm and not come out!"