Zhao Hanzhang mounted her horse, leading Zhao Family Army’s cavalry, while Beigong Chun led the Xiliang Army in pursuit to the east.
The people under the Prince East Sea moved slowly due to carrying too much; many civilians and family mbers were left behind on the road. They didn’t dare scatter and run because the Xiongnu Army was chasing the main army. Scattering into the fields could lead to unexpected encounters with the Xiongnu Army, so even if they fell behind, everyone desperately fled east.
To save their lives, noblewon and young masters scrambled together with civilians and soldiers, disregarding status.
In the chaos, Wang Hufeng’s ox cart fell behind. When she finally caught up from resting in the King’s Tent, Wang Si Niang was about to step out of the tent with her sword. Seeing her, Wang Si Niang’s eyes reddened, "Sister, I was just about to look for you..."
Wang Hufeng took two quick steps forward to embrace her, trembling as she soothed, "It’s fine, it’s fine. Where’s Father?"
Wang Si Niang wiped her tears, saying, "In the King’s Tent."
Wang Hufeng imdiately headed towards the King’s Tent but was stopped before she got close. Wang Yan soon ca out.
Seeing his daughter having returned safely, he sighed with relief and nodded, "It’s good that you’re back. Go accompany your sister; she’s frightened from the journey."
Wang Hufeng pressed her lips together and asked, "Father, the army’s morale is unstable. The Prince needs to appear to stabilize the morale and boost spirits. Shi Le is only fifty thousand strong; we have over two hundred thousand. If we raise our spirit, we can certainly repel the enemy."
She continued, "If we continue this panic, I’m afraid these two hundred thousand will beco re fish on the chopping board."
"I know, you go ahead. I’ll handle stabilizing the morale."
Wang Hufeng exhaled, saluted, and retreated. Halfway through, her steps paused, her expression changing slightly.
"Sister, what’s wrong?"
Wang Hufeng gripped her sister’s hand, trembling slightly, "Father said earlier he would handle stabilizing the morale?"
Wang Si Niang nodded, "Yes, what’s wrong?"
Wang Hufeng’s mouth quivered, and after a mont, she shook her head, "It’s nothing, let’s go back."
Back in their tent, Wang Hufeng called for a sword. To Wang Si Niang, she said, "Carry a sword with you. Even if we can’t fight on the battlefield, at least we can decide our own fate, and not suffer humiliation."
"Why go that far? We have over two hundred thousand n, yet Shi Le only has a few people?" Wang Si Niang waved her sword, her eyes fierce, "I may not be as strong as Hanzhang, but I won’t be bullied."
Wang Hufeng nodded, though worried, suspecting that the Prince East Sea had died.
Indeed, the Prince East Sea had died. His carriage overturned while escaping. Though he seed fine at the ti, he was already gravely ill, so a mix of fear and anger caused him to faint.
He was in poor condition inside the carriage.
This is why they had no choice but to camp here. Earlier in the tent, Wang Yan and others had just bid farewell to the Prince East Sea.
The Prince East Sea died with regret. He never thought he would die outside rather than in Luoyang or East Sea County.
To die in such a humiliating way.
So, before dying, he tightly grasped Prince Xiangyang and Wang Yan’s hands, saying to them, "It’s Gou Xi who drove to this. You must avenge , avenge !"
Wang Yan said nothing, but Prince Xiangyang tearfully promised, "Great King, don’t worry. I will definitely kill Gou Xi to avenge you."
Wang Yan: ...The Prince East Sea couldn’t kill Gou Xi, so why do you think you can?
Too many ridiculous points, he simply remained silent.
The Prince East Sea died unwillingly, his eyes unclosed.
Wang Yan sighed and closed his eyes for him, stopping the crying Prince Xiangyang, "You absolutely cannot cry now; news of the Prince’s illness must not spread."
Having aged, the Prince East Sea had for two years been planning his tomb and coffin for himself. Not ntioning the tomb, he had his coffin with him during the military march.
This proved convenient now, as the coffin could be used directly. Except for his closest friends, no one knew he had passed away.
"With Shi Le pressing closer at every step, we cannot linger here long. I will now organize the army and set out imdiately."
Yet, with over two hundred thousand people, soldiers, officials’ families, slaves, and commoners mixed together, they moved incredibly slowly, unable to move fifty li in a day. anwhile, Shi Le, pursuing with light cavalry, paused only to rest and await the arrival of Liu Yuan’s larger forces.
With over two hundred thousand people, even on wide paths, they stretched several li. Not to ntion they carried much luggage and wealth.
Thus, they decided to divide and encircle, cutting them off and killing them.
Shi Le’s primary target was the Prince East Sea, so he directly bypassed the trailing, continuous group, looping from the side to intercept their head.
The head, housing most of Great Jin’s court, including nobles like Prince Xiangyang and officials like Wang Yan, was at the front.
Zhao Hanzhang and her group, advancing on light cavalry, quickly caught up with their tail, precisely when Wang Zhang led a large army to attack.
Zhao Hanzhang and her group reined their horses from afar, watching as Great Jin’s civilians and soldiers desperately ran along the main road, naturally seeing the billowing yellow dust across.
Trapped in the center, the fleeing Luoyang civilians carrying luggage and family were terrified, unable to bear it, they threw away their possessions, dragging their families as they desperately ran, "Run fast, run fast, the Xiongnu are coming!"
Luggage instantly covered the ground, everyone stumbled forward.
Zhao Hanzhang and her group did not act rashly but glanced at the sprawling group, frowning, "No order, no preparation, the head and tail can’t be connected. If attacked from the rear, the front, forget rescue, scattered civilians could overwhelm them."
Beigong Chun nodded, "To save them, we have to disperse them into the fields, then block the Xiongnu forces."
Fu Tinghan remarked, "It’s easy to disperse them, but if they scatter chaotically, it won’t ensure safety. It also complicates our attack and defense."
"Then guide them," Zhao Hanzhang suggested, "Lead them out of the battlefield orderly with cavalry."
Beigong Chun paused, asking, "How to lead them?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "Simple, use flags to guide, but how to avoid the areas where we’ll clash with the Xiongnu?"
Fu Tinghan replied, "Leave it to . Give fifty n under command."
Zhao Hanzhang agreed swiftly, "Alright."
Seeing the approaching yellow dust ahead, Zhao Hanzhang mounted her horse, assigned fifty n to Fu Tinghan, and ordered, "Everyone listen, hold off the Xiongnu, let the civilians move!"
"Yes!"
Beigong Chun and Zhao Hanzhang kicked their horses, leading the troops charging out. The people on the main road, frightened, weakened, collapsed to the ground, yet the troops sped past them, heading towards the approaching massive army.
Soone who recognized characters widened his eyes, pointing to a flying banner, "Zhao! Zhao Family Army, we’re near Yu State, it’s Xiping’s Zhao Family Army, Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Hanzhang is here to save us."
"Brother, look, the flag behind is Xiliang’s!"
"It’s General Beigong, it’s Xiliang’s Iron Cavalry, we’re saved, we’re saved!"
Seeing the chaotic scattering of civilians, that person imdiately shouted, "It’s Zhao Family Army and Xiliang Army, we’re saved!"
He stood up, drawing breath from his diaphragm, loudly singing, "Liang Province’s great horse, dominating the land. Liang Province’s great eagle, enemies vanish; the eagle soaring, terrifies the world!"
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