After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 955 - 940: The Final Battle

Liu Cong would never sit idly by and wait for death; he was determined to break through!

Therefore, he divided his forces into four routes, each with a central tent. Even though Zhao Hanzhang had scouts sent by Ji Yuan and connections within Liu Yi’s Xiongnu forces, she couldn’t immediately discern which route he was on.

Zhao Hanzhang simply treated each route as if Liu Cong were there.

She devised a plan for Liu Kun and instructed Zhao Ju to attack Hunlu County, with Zhao Ju blocking one route, her another, and Zeng Yue the third.

Linghu Ni had been considered Zhao Hanzhang’s man back in Jinyang, so this time, Zhao Hanzhang used him as the vanguard while she commanded from behind.

Everyone knew this battle was a do-or-die situation. The Xiongnu Army was exceptionally fierce, and even with Zhao Hanzhang’s surrender order, few were willing to surrender; they charged forward exchanging their lives for lives.

Zhao Hanzhang donned armor and went to the battlefield three times; her right back was accidentally slashed by someone, but fortunately, her armor protected her. The armor was broken, likely bleeding, hurting intensely.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t care; it was a critical moment, and retreating now would affect the army’s morale and rhythm.

Yet even with high morale, the Zhao Family Army was slightly inferior when facing the Xiongnu army’s life-for-life strategy. First, a small squad of Xiongnu cavalry tore through their formation, charging out, followed immediately by Xiongnu soldiers, widening the gap, with thousands rushing through that opening...

Zhao Hanzhang turned to pursue, stopping a few hundred, then turning back to kill encircled Xiongnu soldiers...

Linghu Ni was anxious, "General, the Xiongnu’s morale is low, not like before; among those who escaped must be important figures of the Xiongnu court. I request to mobilize troops to chase them."

Zhao Hanzhang laughed, "Never chase cornered enemies; if they’ve escaped, they’ve escaped. Just eliminate the remaining ones."

Her notion of elimination included persuading surrender.

Half an hour later, those remaining on the battlefield finally surrendered.

Zhao Hanzhang rode to the rear, smiling at Fu Tinghan, who was organizing treatment for the wounded, and said, "I’ve got a minor injury, please ask Minister Fu to assign a military doctor."

Fu Tinghan frowned, looked her up and down, then reached out to touch her back shoulder, feeling slightly damp red blood, and asked, "Anywhere else besides the back injured?"

"No more."

Fu Tinghan called over the busy Ting He to support Zhao Hanzhang back to the central tent, arranging for two military doctors, a man and a woman, both skilled.

"Minister, where should this wounded be sent?"

Fu Tinghan withdrew his gaze, glanced down and said, "Send to Camp A-1."

He stopped a soldier missing an arm, pointing to another tent, "Send to Camp A-3, Doctor Liu at Camp A-2 is not here."

The soldiers immediately moved to Camp A-3.

The medical tents were orderly, while Linghu Ni still fretted over those who fled, pacing urgently. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang injured, he went to Fu Tinghan, "Minister Fu, please inform the General to let me lead a troop to chase the fleeing Xiongnu. The rebel Liu Cong might be hiding among them."

Fu Tinghan said, "The Great General is injured, please stay here to guard the army, and about the fleeing Xiongnu soldiers, don’t chase the cornered enemies. Let them escape once they’ve gotten out."

"How can that be? If Liu Cong isn’t caught, he might regroup and return," Linghu Ni paused, his heart sank, asking, "Is the Great General seriously injured?"

Fu Tinghan replied, "No, just a minor injury, but now it’s unsuitable for her to move, so General Linghu needs to assist."

Linghu Ni was skeptical, "Really?"

Fu Tinghan nodded confidently, "Really."

Despite his doubts, Linghu Ni refrained from asking further amid the bustling scene.

Zhao Hanzhang’s injury wasn’t severe, just a long wound; the military doctor cleaned and treated it, bandaged, not even needing stitches.

Zhao Hanzhang changed into lighter attire, called her trusted aide, "Send scouts to check if the ambush ahead caught anyone? And the status of other routes, report back quickly."

"Yes."

At this time, Zhao Erlang was lying on the grass, peering down, quite bored. He asked Xie Shi again, "Mr., will the rebel Liu Cong really pass by here?"

Xie Shi had answered more than once, but having been accustomed to Zhao Erlang’s persistence, he replied patiently, "Second Son’s luck is good, destined to encounter him."

Zhao Erlang lay waiting.

Xie Shi said so, but actually lacked much hope, after all, only a one in four chance.

In a grove only sixty miles straight from there, Shi Le also lay waiting.

Zhang Bin pulled out tortoise shells for divination, shaking his head moments later, "It’s not the General’s turn."

Shi Le frowned slightly, about to inquire but heard a sound. He immediately ordered, "All forces ready, escort Mr. Zhang to retreat."

Zhang Bin then retreated with a squad of guards.

A rapid and noisy sound of hooves and footsteps rang out, a general covered in blood leading the way, followed by nearly ten thousand fleeing soldiers behind.

Shi Le immediately recognized Liu Yao on horseback, scanning for Liu Cong but only briefly regretted not finding him; his disappointment was fleeting. He immediately ordered, and three squads of the Shi Army rushed from the woods, fired arrows alternately ahead, accompanied by pits dug out disrupting the cavalry.

Liu Yao hadn’t expected an ambush here, shocked, gritted his teeth intending to charge out, as Shi Le leapt out like a tiger from the woods directly charging at him.

Seeing Shi Le, Liu Yao’s heart sank, realizing escaping this time was improbable.

Also intercepted was Liu Cong!

Liu Cong was in Colonel attire, leading was his sixth son, Liu Ji, whose strength was impressive. Zhao Erlang saw them fleeing here and shouted, sending stones and logs down, causing chaos among the fleeing soldiers, but they quickly regrouped to resist.

Xie Shi was delighted, shouted, "The rebel Liu Cong is among the fleeing soldiers. Anyone capturing Liu Cong alive, rewards a hundred taels, promotes three levels; anyone taking his head, will be rewarded ten taels, promoted two levels!"

The soldiers invigorated, Zhao Erlang excitedly charged, leading an assault on the enemy, fighting fiercely with Liu Ji.

Liu Ji is strong, Zhao Erlang equally so; Liu Ji was older, but they were similarly experienced, while Zhao Erlang excelled in learning skills; once confronted, he learned the opponent’s moves, instinctively knowing how to counter them.

With a better weapon and utilizing being well-rested, Zhao Erlang gradually overwhelmed Liu Ji after over twenty moves. His spear swung widely, pushing Liu Ji from the front to the rear, as others stepped aside, occasionally facing hidden ambushes, quickly countered with a rear thrust of his spear.

While traversing through the enemy lines, Zhao Erlang keenly spotted Liu Cong passing him.