CHAPTER 119: CHAPTER 113: THE GIRL’S LIPS

Zhao Hanzhang patted his head, "I’ll take you next time. This time, I’m going first to pave the way for you. You stay home and protect Mother."

Then she looked at Mrs. Wang, nodded at her and said, "I’m leaving now. Take care."

Mrs. Wang’s tears fell like rain, "I thought returning to Ru Nan would be better, who knew the war would reach here."

Zhao Hanzhang wiped her tears and said, "Mother, where in the world is there a spotless land now? Rest assured, I will return safely."

Fu Tinghan was also donned in armor, which felt heavy and unfamiliar. He approached Zhao Hanzhang, waiting for her at the bottom of the steps.

Seeing him, Zhao Hanzhang nodded to Mrs. Wang and walked toward Fu Tinghan, carrying a sword.

She handed the sword to him.

Fu Tinghan looked at the long sword in her hand, paused, and then accepted it, "I’m not very skilled with a sword."

"No worries, it’s just for self-defense. Having something handy is better than nothing."

Fu Tinghan accepted the sword and went with Zhao Hanzhang to meet the gathered troops.

Ji Ping had returned from the county city and said, "I wandered around the city and inquired with the county government, but they also don’t know who the enemy is or how many there are. When I came back, I saw Mr. Ji enter the county government."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, checked the time, and said, "Let’s wait a bit more for Mr. Ji. If he doesn’t return within half an hour, we will set off first."

"Yes."

Zhao Ju came up and said, "Milady, everyone has been gathered, totaling seven hundred and eighty people."

He paused and then asked, "Should we also recruit the strong men from the manor?"

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and shook her head, "When they were recruited, it wasn’t to become troops. They’ve only been in the manor for a short time, and their loyalty isn’t enough. Sending them to the battlefield now would be more harm than good."

Once the first person runs, the morale will disperse.

"Moreover, they’re not trained. Sending them to the battlefield is just sending them to death, adding one life for nothing. Let them stay at the manor." Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment and said, "Let’s go, I’ll accompany you to meet them."

Since Zhao Hanzhang was uncertain about how many people she would take, Zhao Ju gathered all the adults from the manor, while Zhao Tong was calming the anxious village guards.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, the village guards gradually quieted, looking back at her solemnly.

Zhao Hanzhang scanned their faces inch by inch and shouted loudly, "I’m leaving now. This journey is to save the clansmen and to save us!"

She continued, "After Xiping, it’s us in Shangcai. Once Xiping is breached, the enemy will enter Shangcai as if it’s an unpeopled land, and our manor won’t have a barrier. By then, we’ll be left to be slaughtered. Are you willing?"

A village guard quietly replied, "Not willing."

Zhao Hanzhang shouted, "In this manor, besides you, there are your parents, wives, children, brothers, and sisters. I ask you, are you willing to be slaughtered?"

"Not willing! Not willing!" The village guards were moved by her voice and couldn’t help but reply loudly.

"Very good, then guard this manor, guard your families!" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Shangcai is a good place, with land, and water, our newly built houses, and settled life. We cannot let it be destroyed! Will you dare to guard it?"

"Guard, guard——"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, turned back to Zhao Tong, and said, "I’m leaving the manor to you. If anything is undecided, find Mr. Ji."

Zhao Hanzhang turned to meet the summoned troops. They were all ready, unlike the village guards; since deciding to become troops, they knew this day would come.

Zhao Hanzhang knew they understood, but still said, "This journey to Xiping is not just for Xiping, or Shangcai, but also for us!"

She continued, "You’ve been training for some time, and this is your chance for verification. I only wish you remember, the first to die on the battlefield are those who do not follow orders, and then those who fear death. I ask you, are you afraid of dying?"

"Not afraid, not afraid!"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded contentedly, checked the time, felt it was nearly right, and waved her hand, "Let’s go!"

Fu An led the horses forward, and Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan mounted.

They didn’t have many horses, only fifty-eight, the rest were infantry who traveled on foot.

Zhao Hanzhang kicked the horse’s belly, maintaining speed at the front, Fu Tinghan ran beside her, asked, "How do you plan to fight?"

"We’ll talk about it when we reach the spot, but with just our manpower, head-on combat won’t work." As the words fell, Zhao Hanzhang noticed the soldiers approaching from the front, and exclaimed, "Seems like we have more troops."

Ji Yuan brought nearly two hundred men over, including about twenty horses.

Both sides stopped when close, Ji Yuan and Chang Ning brought one person forward, "Third Lady, County Lord is righteous, deciding to send troops to aid Xiping."

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her voice to ask, "Is this all the manpower?"

Ji Yuan also lowered his voice, "It’s quite a lot. Shangcai County didn’t have many troops, and he kept some to guard the city gate. But I came not just for men."

He cleared his throat and said loudly, "The County Lord knows Milady intends to aid Xiping but lacks weapons and horses. Thus, he specially wrote a letter, allowing you to fetch horses from the stable and providing you with a hundred sets of military equipment."

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Does she lack manpower now?

What she lacks is precisely military equipment, and Mr. Ji understands her well.

The stable is a bit far from their manor but conveniently on the way to Xiping, so Ji Yuan only brought a hundred sets of equipment. The horses they need to fetch themselves.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, letting Zhao Ju lead people to distribute the equipment. She stepped aside to express her gratitude to Chang Ning and acknowledged that all the credit this time belonged to the righteous County Magistrate Chai.

Chang Ning smiled and said, "Third Lady is courteous, righteous is the Third Lady, the County Lord should thank the Third Lady."

He glanced at Ji Yuan and continued, "So please rest assured, Third Lady, we will take good care of Mrs. Zhao and Second Son."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan leaned forward and spoke softly, "They want the Second Lady and Second Son to stay in the city as hostages. I boldly agreed on behalf of Third Lady."

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Ji Yuan, almost inaudibly replied, "You really understand, sir."

Ji Yuan also lowered his voice to answer, "In urgent matters, act with discretion. Isn’t Tan Zhong’s failure to understand this principle the reason why Second Eldest lost the first chance to win people’s hearts since becoming Clan Leader?"

"You indeed understand how to draw inferences," Zhao Hanzhang did not blame him but took two steps back, bowed deeply, "I leave my mother and little brother in your care, sir."

Ji Yuan hurriedly bowed in return, "Ziyuan will do everything possible and not fail you, Milady."

Zhao Hanzhang declared in front of Chang Ning, "I won’t disappoint you, sir, or the County Lord. Please inform the County Lord to expect my good news from Shangcai City."

No matter if it succeeds or not, boast first to calm the people’s hearts.