After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times
Chapter 168 - 162: A Small Panic in the Heart

Chapter 168: Chapter 162: A Small Panic in the Heart

Ji Yuan was deeply moved and immediately said, "Tomorrow I will accompany the lady."

"Mr. Ji, you should stay with Uncle Qianli. I’m afraid I can’t protect you if you follow me."

Zhao Ju immediately said, "Yes, sir, follow me. Let Qiu Wu and Ji Ping accompany the lady."

Ji Yuan hesitated, "Lady, this is your first public event, having me with you..."

Zhao Hanzhang glanced outside the tent, then pulled Ji Yuan aside and whispered, "Actually, having you follow Uncle Qianli is also a personal motive of mine."

She said, "You can remain in the right wing and seize opportunities to act."

Ji Yuan raised his brow, "Such as?"

"Such as raiding the Xiongnu Army’s tents and cutting off their retreat."

Ji Yuan: "...With just these inexperienced, untrained new recruits?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Tell them there are gold, silver, and jewels looted by the Xiongnu Army in the tents, endless supplies. Sir, the refugee army you see everywhere outside, who among them has been trained? Before becoming refugees, who had fought in battles?"

Ji Yuan pondered, "I understand. I will assist Zhao Qianli in dispatching well and act accordingly."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction, "Go if possible, if not, try to preserve the living forces."

"Living forces?" Ji Yuan repeated twice, raised his eyebrows high, and laughed heartily, "The lady is right. They are living forces; as long as we preserve lives, we are the winners."

Zhao Ju listened silently, not fully understanding, but he understood the lady’s words earlier, to assess conditions and strike the Xiongnu’s camps.

"It’s getting late; Mr. Ji and Uncle Qianli should go rest." She needed sleep too.

Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju got up to take their leave.

Soldiers brought hot water for her to wash up. Zhao Hanzhang wiped her face and hands, thinking it better to bring Ting He next time for more convenience when moving in and out of the camp.

Zhao Hanzhang sat on a freshly planked bed, the blankets and leaves couldn’t mask the wood’s fragrance underneath.

Zhao Hanzhang undressed, took off the bag tied to her calf, and placed it at the bedside, producing a clang against the bedboard.

She untied the bag from her wrist, rubbed her wrist, stretched her waist, and lay down.

After clashing with Shi Le, Zhao Hanzhang knew skill alone wasn’t enough for mounted combat; one needs strength, especially when chopping.

If chopping is prolonged, strength wanes, so she’s deliberately practiced arm and leg strength.

The bag held stones; previously small ones, she added more since the day before yesterday. Not only did she bind them on her hands, but also her calves. Initially uncomfortable, she adapted to the weight over time, able to run and jump like normal people.

With breathing techniques, perhaps she could master Qinggong.

Of course, it’s not Qinggong that defies gravity and flies in mid-air, but the ability to dodge lightly like a swan.

Zhao Hanzhang lay awhile, then suddenly opened her eyes in confusion; despite feeling weary, she was sleepless.

Zhao Hanzhang lay for quite a while before climbing up, rummaging her luggage until she found pen and paper.

She silently gazed into the darkness outside her tent, then began writing: Professor Fu, greetings upon receiving this letter.

The long night is arduous, my mind is complex, and for the first time, fear has arisen within me...

This battle differs from the last defense of Zhao’s Fortress and Xiping County. Last time was too abrupt; she had little time for reflection or alternatives.

But this time she does.

So she hesitated, even felt fear, unsure if her decision was right or wrong.

She could foresee the right outcome, but the consequences of a wrong one were endless, even doubting her ability to bear it.

Yet she couldn’t reveal it before Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju.

Were it before tonight, she believed she foresaw both outcomes, unafraid even of the worst.

But now, she suddenly felt less certain.

Zhao Hanzhang exhaled, silently looking at the letter in her hand, tempted to cross it out and destroy it, pretending it was never written. But hesitating, she put the pen down, blew dry the ink, folded the letter, and placed it into an envelope.

If she safely returns with the people, she will show this letter to Professor Fu.

Zhao Hanzhang stored the letter safely and lay back on the bed.

Perhaps the act of writing relieved her, as she soon fell asleep after closing her eyes.

The next morning, Zhao Ju got up early to have people bury pots and prepare food.

Governor Zhang and his party were punctual, assembling troops and setting off at the agreed time.

Zhao Hanzhang led Zhao Ju to meet General Cai, who was also in the right wing, representing Nanyang County.

He didn’t bring many troops, only two thousand, but felt superior and more significant than young Zhao Hanzhang, directly attempting to command the right wing.

Zhao Hanzhang agreed readily, then turned to Zhao Ju, "Follow Mr. Ji’s advice."

Open defiance under the guise of obedience.

Zhao Ju couldn’t help glaring at Ji Yuan, finding the lady’s growing impudence attributed to his bad influence.

Ji Yuan couldn’t help self-reflecting, wondering if he indeed taught her to become this way.

Zhao Hanzhang had already mounted, taking Qiu Wu and Ji Ping to the central army for some spectacle.

Qiu Wu and Ji Ping each brought a squad, twenty people in total, escorting Zhao Hanzhang to the forefront of the central army.

The various reinforcements’ assistant generals, prefectural governors, and county magistrates were gathered here, centered around Governor Zhang.

Bringing twenty people wasn’t too many, yet clearly not few either; others merely brought three to five guards, unlike her grand entrance with so many.

Governor Zhang glanced at her once and didn’t mind; a young girl might naturally fear, thus bringing more guards was understandable.

Nonetheless, he hoped Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t stay, considering her presence in battle a liability. He beckoned her over, speaking as she jovially approached on horseback, "Third Lady, the central army is risky; you’d better stay back, to prevent accidental injury by stray arrows."

Zhao Hanzhang with an innocent face replied, "Uncle, I’m not afraid of stray arrows; I’m here to protect you."

Seeing her insistence, Governor Zhang nodded, "Alright, but staying here, heed commands and don’t wander off."

"Okay."

Zhao Hanzhang led her twenty bodyguards to the side, quietly advancing forward.

Indeed, this reinforcement had already been observed by the Xiongnu Army; shortly after they began marching, having arrived beneath Yu Yang City, the Xiongnu received word.

Thus the Xiongnu Army orderly withdrew, retreating beyond the range of the city walls, then switching rear troops to front, waiting for the approaching army.

If not for the proximity between armies and scouts patrolling the route, the Xiongnu would have attempted an ambush.

But given the close distance, mutual ambushing was difficult.

Soon the two armies encountered each other on the open ground outside Yu Yang City. Governor Zhang raised his hand to halt everyone’s movement; he stepped forward and summoned the order soldiers, saying, "Summon their general, tell him I wish to speak with him."