Zhao Hanzhang rolled up the scroll and said to the reluctant Eleventh Ancestor, "Don’t worry, Eleventh Ancestor, I’ll get it back soon, and you can continue to draw then."
Eleventh Ancestor was puzzled, "What do you want this map for?"
The matter of attacking Yu Yang could be told to Zhao Ming, but not to others in Wu Castle, so Zhao Hanzhang casually found an excuse, "Ting Han wants to check if the already drawn mountains and geography are correct to prevent a series of mistakes from one error."
Eleventh Ancestor was persuaded, nodded, and said, "Take it, but don’t let your future husband get too nervous. We are all family, and for missing details, you can co to Wu Castle to check. Why take the map away?"
After Eleventh Ancestor muttered for a long ti, Zhao Hanzhang held the map and hurried away.
With the map, Zhao Hanzhang and her team traveled more confidently. Fu Tinghan sat in the carriage and morized the map. He closed his eyes slightly, recalled the map in his mind, opened his eyes for verification, and found no mistakes, then rolled up the map and set it aside, recalling the geography and cities on the map repeatedly until he wouldn’t forget again.
Zhao Hanzhang rode at the front, accompanied by a minor official from Yu Yang County. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang imdiately deploy soldiers and bringing so many people, he was very moved, "Lady Zhao, once you rescue our County Lord, we will exhaust all efforts at your command in the future."
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, nodded, and said, "No problem, no problem."
They hurriedly arrived at Yu Yang, but Zhao Hanzhang did not imdiately attack, instead camping outside the city and sending scouts to gather information.
This was her second ti leading troops to Yu Yang, the first visit was unfamiliar, and the second was familiar, as she had explored many places last ti.
This ti, their opponents were a group of disorganized, chaotic, and untrained rebels, much easier to deal with than the last Xiongnu Army.
They occupied most of the county town but hardly guarded the city gates. The scout quickly reported back, "There are only about ten soldiers at the city gate and few people on the city wall, about twenty, and the gate is opened."
Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Is the city gate empty?"
"Not empty, many poorly-clothed civilians are rushing in, saying there’s food in the city and that the wealthy inside can be looted."
Zhao Hanzhang’s brow twitched, thought for a mont, and said, "Let the people rest for a mont, and when there are fewer people at the gate, we’ll rush in."
Ji Yuan was startled, quickly expressing opposition, "Rushing in directly? My lady, that’s too dangerous. What if there’s an ambush in the city..."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "If there’s an ambush in the city, those ordinary civilians wouldn’t rush in so confidently."
She paused and said, "But if you’re worried, we can send soone to infiltrate and investigate, key monts can be coordinated from inside."
Finding people to infiltrate from her army was easy.
Because half of her squads were refugees, they understood the mindset of those rushing in at this ti and knew how to act more convincingly, just by recalling events from eight or nine months ago.
So, they quickly picked dozens of people, found ways to get several sets of dirty clothes, put them on, smudged their faces, scattered their hair, and silently blended in with the rebels in groups of threes and twos.
There were inspectors at the city gate, but they were careless, only grabbing people and asking where they’re from, letting anyone inside as long as the accent wasn’t wrong.
They quickly blended in, following the crowd so distance before staying put in an alley.
They observed for a long ti, found no ambush, and said, "I’ll go out and inform the County Lord."
A partner hurriedly grabbed him, "Are you stupid? How to get out?"
"This ti, only people are entering the city, who is leaving? Leaving now indicates a problem, right?"
"Then what do we do?"
"Wait, the County Lord gave us flares, only ignite if there’s an ambush. Since there’s no problem, we don’t ignite, isn’t that good?"
Zhao Hanzhang waited outside, saw the night approaching, and the county town remained silent.
As people entering the city diminished, Zhao Hanzhang smiled, turned back, and told Zhao Ju, "I’ll lead the charge, Uncle Qianli will hold the rear."
Zhao Ju agreed.
Zhao Erlang squeezed forward imdiately, "Sister, what about ?"
Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "You join ."
She instructed, "Don’t kill civilians recklessly, only strike if provoked, otherwise focus on intimidation."
Zhao Erlang agreed.
So, Zhao Hanzhang mounted her horse, with Zhao Erlang and Fu Tinghan riding on either side, followed by Qiu Wu and other cavalry guards.
Zhao Ju led the rear guard.
Zhao Hanzhang kicked the horse’s belly, charging toward the city gate.
People on the city wall saw them first, clumsily banging on the gongs. Those below, upon hearing, instinctively looked up at the wall instead of closing the gate.
Soone on the wall shouted loudly below, "Enemy attack, close the gate quickly, close the gate quickly..."
The guards at the gate were then frantic to close it, the civilians queued to enter panicked and pushed inward, the gate was heavy, making it harder to close, while cavalry quickly approached...
Zhao Hanzhang held her spear in her right hand and reins in her left, being the first to reach the city gate, she swept aside those blocking the way with her spear-barrel, shouting loudly, "Xiping County reinforcents have arrived, all rebels surrender and be spared, why haven’t you retreated..."
Powerless civilians scattered and fled, Zhao Hanzhang did not chase them, even the dozen gate guards were only pushed aside without injury. Leading the charge into the county city, she ordered, "Take over the gate!"
The infantry following her rushed in, quickly taking control of the gate and wall, guarding the key spots thodically, from this mont, no one could easily enter or leave the gates.
Those who infiltrated earlier jumped out from the streets to lead, "County Lord, County Lord, rebels are looting the wealthy in town."
Zhao Hanzhang asked, "What’s the situation at the county governnt?"
"Still surrounded, County Magistrate Sun has gathered all the governnt officials and military in the county governnt. They have many arrows, so the rebels can’t breach."
Quite smart.
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a mont, called Zhao Erlang, "Go rescue them, spare civilians, our goal is to subdue them, tell them that if they lay down their weapons, the court won’t pursue them?"
Zhao Erlang nodded vigorously, ignoring if his sister could represent the court.
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Fu Tinghan, nodded slightly, "I’m entrusting Erlang to you."
Fu Tinghan agreed, "You be careful."
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and headed toward the county governnt with Ji Yuan.
There were many rebels surrounding the county governnt, upon seeing court reinforcents, they panicked, so didn’t follow orders, in fear, raised their knives and rushed at Zhao Hanzhang, shouting.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t let him approach, directly kicked him away, and before the others could react, dismounted and picked up the fallen man, sternly facing the surrounding civilians, "The culprit County Deputy is dead, continuing ans a grave mistake, do you want to proceed?"
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