History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 322 One Strike Captures the Dragon and Tiger
She immediately ordered: "Kou Meng and Yu Jin, follow me to annihilate the enemy. Yuan Hui and Lu Chang, guard the Hundred-Foot Tower."

Lu Chang watched the three generals leave and indignantly provoked them again: "What's so great about guarding the Hundred-Foot Tower? Is Attendant Zhao afraid that you or I will steal her credit?"

According to Pengcheng Wang's estimation, the leader of the thieves who wanted to sneak into Hanchun Gate was most likely Yin Longhu, the fiercest warrior under Yuan Xi.

Yuan Hui, looking out from his vantage point, sarcastically remarked, "A woman's mind is not suited for important tasks. She wants to be at the forefront and claim the first credit, but she doesn't know that Yin Longhu is no ordinary warrior. Perfect, let's watch from here and see whether Zhao Zhi is more formidable or Yin Longhu is more valiant."

Lu Chang chuckled sinisterly: "The Hundred-Foot Tower is the most important watchtower in Jinyong City. Just in case, we should have archers deployed on both sides. If the situation turns against us, we can immediately shoot down any spies who approach this place!"

Yuan Hui hesitated for a moment, then ordered: "Deploy archers to guard each level, stand ready and await further orders."

Zhao Zhi led her troops on horseback to Hanchun Gate, where the Tiger Warriors who were originally guarding the gate had been replaced by elite Imperial Guards.

The military officer guarding this place is Zhang Longzi, a Palace Attendant.

Zhao Zhi dismounted and first asked Zhang Longzi to report the number of archers, crossbowmen, and shieldmen. Then she ordered them to form a battle formation and then ordered: "Place barricades in front of the city gate, and everyone retreat to arrow range and wait for military orders."

Just then, shouts of battle arose in the distance!

Zhao Zhi and other generals all knew that Yang Daye must have been the one ambush the rebels.

Yaoguang Temple was located directly opposite the imperial road south of the North Palace Garden. The terrifying sounds of killing caused all the nuns to speculate wildly and tremble with fear.

In a nunnery, Xie Fanjing hurriedly struck a jade chime and chanted sutras to suppress the panic in her heart. The chaos of war outside the temple reminded her of the day the Liu Song dynasty fell. She was protected by secret guards and escaped from the Song palace, but how many innocent soldiers and palace servants were slaughtered, and several high walls, like tombs, covered up the tragic process of bloodshed.

Having experienced the suffering of national subjugation, she cherished the preciousness of peaceful times all the more. That night, Xie Fanjing finally saw herself as an ordinary citizen of the Wei Dynasty. She gradually calmed down and sincerely recited scriptures and prayed for Wei again and again.

In another nunnery in the distance, the deposed Empress Feng Cixing's face was contorted with rage, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to a nun. She couldn't sleep, couldn't sit still, pacing back and forth in the room, wishing she could leave the temple to see who was fighting whom. Had Yuan Xi rebelled? That fool should have rebelled long ago! How wonderful it would have been to perish together with the young emperor!
She scratched at the window with her fingernail, muttering to herself, "The Tuoba clan deserves to die."

"I am the Empress, I am the Empress! It's just that I was unlucky to marry a biased emperor, otherwise I would be the Empress Dowager now, and it would be no longer the old servant Ciqing who is bullying the emperor in the harem."

She cursed again: "Useless old nun Sengzhi, all those years of my Feng family's training of you were wasted. You died just when we were hoping you would repay us! And that eunuch Wang Yu, I really shouldn't have listened to his boasts. It's fine if he's dead, but he caused me to lose almost all contact with the outside world!"

The north and south city walls where Hanchun Gate is located.

The valiant Yang Daye killed a man with every few steps as he ran, his speed so fast that the rebels couldn't even see him.

He caught up with Yin Longhu's steed with lightning speed, roared "Traitor, die!" and exchanged a palm strike with Yin Longhu, who was hastily retaliating.

Both of them flew backwards like kites with broken strings. Yin Longhu felt his blood surging in his chest and dared not get entangled with Yang Daye. He quickly seized a horse and rushed towards Hanchun Gate, disappearing into the thicket of rebel troops.

Countless arrows rained down, drawing away the imperial army's pursuit.

Yang Daye had been recognized as the number one warrior of the Great Wei during the reign of the late emperor. He clenched his slightly numb and painful hand, and was secretly surprised that Yin Longhu had really hidden his strength and was able to steadily withstand his full-force palm strike.

No, Zhao Zhi is probably no match for this person. He has to go to Han Chun Gate!

"Don't run away, Yuanxi—"

"Help! The bandit leader Yuan Xi is here!"

Yang Daye stopped running, knowing that it might be rebels shouting to stop him from chasing Yin Longhu, but in case Yuan Xi was killed in the chaos, he had no choice but to turn back.

Yin Longhu arrived at Hanchun Gate.

Rebel troops were already waiting there, and several rounds of arrows had been exchanged between those on and below the city walls, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Yin Longhu's confidants kept gathering from all directions.

Chief Clerk Feng, protected by men with iron shields, came through a side path and asked in a panic, "The city gates are tightly closed, how can we attack the city?"

"I was prepared. Dig up giant trees!"

As the strongman dug the earth, Chief Secretary Feng was filled with doubt and apprehension, but he was relieved when he saw that a round log as thick as a person's embrace had indeed been unearthed.

Yin Longhu immediately ordered the city gate to be rammed, and then told Chief Secretary Feng, "When the Yaoguang Temple was being built, timber was frequently transported back and forth. At that time, I bribed the patrolmen to bury two battering rams here." "Your Majesty's great cause is thanks to you. Don't worry, once Luoyang is captured, I will definitely report your achievements to Your Majesty."

"No need." Yin Longhu punched straight down, smashing Feng Changshi's throat into a bloody mess.

As Chief Secretary Feng's body fell, the city gate slammed open with a loud crash.

A trusted confidant warned, "There's definitely something fishy going on."

The city gate was broken open too easily, and no soldiers rushed out.

"Even if it's a trap, we have to charge!" Yin Longhu guessed that the person who had just exchanged blows with him was very likely Yang Daye, the number one warrior.

The enemy will definitely come after us; he must capture Jinyong City as soon as possible.

"The decisive moment for King Cheng will be tonight! Kill—"

Following Yin Longhu's shouts, the warriors either ran or rode horses into the city gate.

"Oh no, there are barricades!"

Yin Longhu: "Arrow formation, clear the way!"

In the dark distance, Zhao Zhi simultaneously gave the order: "Fire the arrows!"

"Shield block!"

"Shoot the crossbow, release the arrow, shoot the crossbow..."

As their arrows clashed, the distance between them gradually decreased as their shields blocked the projectiles.

Seizing the opportunity, Yin Longhu used his shield to block and was the first to pounce: "Charge!"

boom!
He seemed to have deliberately crashed into a rocky mountain, and the blood in his mouth instantly sprayed onto the shield that had slipped from his grasp.

The heavy shield fell, and Zhao Zhi took her place in view. She also held a shield in one hand, and with the other hand, her fingers curled like an eagle's claw, she reached out to grab Yin Longhu's face in mid-air.

"No." Poor Yin Longhu thought he had concealed his strength and was finally able to control Yuan Xi to plan his great cause, but he never expected that he would be no match for Zhao Zhi in a single move and would be defeated by this martial woman in the dense rain of arrows.

Yang Daye rushed to Hanchun Gate and was dumbfounded.

what's the situation?
The rebels... surrendered?!

Yin Longhu was captured alive and tied stiffly to a stretcher. Zhao Zhi had crushed all the bones in his limbs and dislocated his jaw. He could only stare at his surroundings with wide, bulging eyes.

The body of Chief Secretary Feng has been found.

Zhao Zhi instructed Zhang Longzi to hand over the body of Chief Secretary Feng to Yang Daye, then called to Kou Meng and Yu Jin: "Come on, follow me to pay homage to His Majesty and receive your reward."

Yu Jin approached Kou Meng and whispered a reminder: "Minister Yuan and Lu Chang are still at the Hundred-Foot Tower."

Kou Meng pretended to pick his ear and asked, "Huh?"

Yu Jin quickly laughed and changed his words: "I was saying that Attendant Zhao is really capable."

Kou Meng was even more delighted than when he was praising himself, and immediately said, "Of course!"

Hundred-foot tower.

Yuan Hui gazed in the direction of Hanchun Gate, his eyelids twitching. He urged his subordinates, "Go and investigate again." He had accepted the generous gifts from Consort Gao and intended to eliminate Zhao Zhi amidst the chaos of war.

Lu Chang stood a few steps away, wiping his ring-pommel sword. He had once served as an envoy to the Qi state, but his cowardice and poor performance led to his dismissal. Tonight, he could finally avenge his humiliation and silence the world's ridicule of his disgraceful past. Once he gained the Emperor's trust and regained his former glory, he would surely kill Zhao Zhi! He would let that foolish woman know that a scholar wielding a sword is more powerful than a thousand armies!