Chapter 394 - 388: Full-scale Attack
Five thousand men quietly crossed the river, following the narrow path outwards, finally gathering in a wasteland outside. Zhao Hanzhang pulled her horse to a stop, sending scouts ahead to gather intelligence.
The scouts continuously reported on the battle ahead. When she heard that the Prince East Sea’s forces had already attacked the other side and were fiercely engaged with Gou Xi’s army, she ordered an advance.
She led two thousand cavalry to proceed first.
Due to the intense battle, the Prince East Sea also came to the riverbank to command in person.
The morale was finally boosted, especially as they had sufficient numbers and a general suggested using catapults and crossbows.
From this side, they launched stones and arrows across the river, finally slowing the enemy’s advance. The Prince East Sea’s soldiers, trapped at the river, seized the opportunity and bravely charged onto the shore.
Continuously being shot at, they were enraged and immediately engaged in close combat with the enemy.
With the first wave breaking through, it became easier for the others, and by the time Zhao Hanzhang received the news, the Prince East Sea’s men had already reached halfway up the shore.
She knew it was their turn to take action.
Zhao Hanzhang shook the reins and shouted "Go!" then led her troops charging straight towards the Prince East Sea’s encampment.
They were some distance from the Prince East Sea’s camp, but the cavalry was swift, and as soon as they rounded the mountain corner, they could see the enemy’s camp.
Zhao Hanzhang led two thousand cavalry directly into the attack.
The Prince East Sea’s scouts spotted them and immediately turned back to report.
The Prince East Sea asked, "Where did they cross the river? How did you not detect them?"
Pang Mo, standing by, stomped his foot and said, "Prince, you forgot. I mentioned when Zhao Hanzhang returned to the Yu State Army that she must have a crossing point; otherwise, how did she return without us knowing?"
What’s the point in saying this now?
Would the Prince East Sea even admit his mistake?
Another general, Cao Wu, promptly said, "The Zhao Family Army is brave and skilled in maneuver warfare. Please, Prince, immediately order troops to form up in front of the camp and stop their advance."
The Prince East Sea regained his senses and immediately said, "Go quickly!"
Cao Wu received the order and left, taking responsibility for assembling the troops.
The cavalry was fast and soon reached near the camp. The soldiers gathered weren’t enough yet, but Cao Wu was no pushover; he had already organized two teams of soldiers, long spears in hand, squeezed together waiting for the cavalry to advance.
Zhao Hanzhang saw this from afar, raised an eyebrow slightly, turned her horse to bypass the gathered spearmen from the flank, and chose to attack from the north.
The standard-bearers followed behind Zhao Hanzhang, and without needing her orders, the cavalry behind her swiftly followed her lead.
Cao Wu frowned deeply and immediately ordered, "Deploy ten thousand more troops. Place two thousand spearmen at the north and east, and have the rest ready with bows and arrows, quickly!"
Cao Wu’s orders were swift, but the Prince East Sea’s soldiers had grown lazy over time, lacking sufficient rations from the prince, often conserving energy by lying idle without training, resulting in slow assembly at this crucial moment.
Even though Zhao Hanzhang bypassed the camp to the north, her speed was slightly faster than theirs. Coincidentally, as she reached the north and charged in, Gou Chun was also leading a large force to circle from the east.
The two cavalry units unexpectedly chose to attack from the north at the same time.
Though allied, the opportunity in battle was fleeting, so Zhao Hanzhang didn’t greet Gou Chun, just glanced from a distance before leading her men to charge in first. As they burst in, the spearmen, ordered to reinforce, arrived but weren’t organized in time; Zhao Hanzhang’s charge into the camp threw them into chaos.
Cao Wu saw and knew they lost the initiative, so he immediately instructed the archers following behind to withdraw, then had the shield-bearing soldiers form a defensive line and ordered the archers to shoot regardless of friend or foe.
He didn’t even blink as he brandished a large blade, loudly commanding, "Do not retreat, form ranks, loose arrows!"
They barely managed to cluster together and fire arrows. As the arrows rained down, Zhao Hanzhang spun her lance, knocking down the incoming arrows, then instructed Qiu Wu behind her, "Protect Mr. Fu!"
After speaking, she led her men charging forward. Her horse leaped into the air, and once in close range, the archers’ bows became useless.
Zhao Erlang, seeing his sister’s bold advance, naturally dared not fall behind and led his men charging forward, directly tearing open Cao Wu’s newly formed formation.
Cao Wu, seeing this, knew he couldn’t retreat further, or else once defeated, it would be impossible to recover.
He gripped his blade tightly and shouted loudly, "Form ranks, shield soldiers in front, spearmen behind, everyone advance with me."
He bellowed, "Attack their horses!"
They had superior numbers, outnumbered them, and just might hold them off. It’s not like there were no precedents; even Beigong Chun managed to encircle and kill cavalry with fewer infantry.
Cao Wu was a fierce general, but unfortunately, the troops weren’t directly under his command, and with Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Chun already in front of them, it was difficult for the panicked soldiers to fully heed commands.
His orders were correct, but not many soldiers executed them. So as Zhao Hanzhang charged forward, Cao Wu faced her directly.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s lance, he shuddered, and that moment of hesitation caused him to take two steps back when trying to block with his knife. Zhao Hanzhang’s lance thrust forward rapidly, catching him off-guard and piercing through him.
Cao Wu’s eyes widened as Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her lance swiftly and flicked his helmet into the air. Grabbing it, she shouted loudly, "Your commander is dead, surrender immediately!"
In panic, some dropped their weapons, others turned and ran, while some continued to resist with spears and swords.
Zhao Hanzhang only targeted those who resisted, advancing all the way towards the Prince East Sea’s encampment.
Gou Chun was only a step behind, attacking from two separate paths along with Zhao Hanzhang.
Meanwhile, their infantry arrived from the east and west, directly confronting the formations previously arranged by Cao Wu.
They couldn’t breach for a moment, but Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Chun fought out from within, quickly breaking their formations, and the infantry immediately followed them in.
The Prince East Sea received updates from various fronts, furious and panicked. He hurriedly ordered, "Sound the gongs for retreat, call them back to protect the main camp!"
The Prince East Sea still had many soldiers within the camp. Witnessing Zhao Hanzhang’s relentless advance, they immediately withdrew with the remaining forces.
Seeing this, Zhao Hanzhang promptly ordered, "Charge, seize their camp!"
Gou Chun also ordered a charge, eager to capture the camp before Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang led her troops in pursuit of the Prince East Sea, preventing him from rallying the remaining troops.
These men were invaluable resources. If they could be kept in Yu State, there would be plenty to cultivate the vast, barren lands.
Zhao Hanzhang pursued for a stretch, then turned back to face the remnants emerging from the river, loudly declaring, "The Prince East Sea has fled; disarm and you won’t be killed!"
Yet among them were leading officers who couldn’t abandon their ranks and families to surrender, so they organized forces to break through Zhao Hanzhang’s encirclement.
A chaotic battle ensued on the spot.
Fu Tinghan fought his way over, took a moment to glance around, and said to Zhao Hanzhang, "To catch a thief, first capture the king. Are you capturing the Prince East Sea or not?"
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Let them distance themselves first—cut off their stragglers, then pursue!"
She had no intention of being enveloped in a pincer attack during the chase.
Fu Tinghan agreed, just about to lead troops to assist her from the side, when out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone aiming a short bow at them. His heart tightened, and he instinctively shouted, "Hanzhang, watch out!"