After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 985 - 970: Pacifying the Rebellion

Zhao Shen stood holding his sword in the middle of the road, still wearing ragged clothes, and even his hair was in disarray, but the two thousand soldiers behind him made him appear much taller.

Casually, he raised his head to look at Xun Xiu on horseback, a slight smirk at the corner of his mouth, "General Xun, you’re later than I expected. Seems quite unwise."

Xun Xiu tightened the grip on his knife. Indeed, Zhao Ming’s son is just as annoying as him, especially that mouth.

He ordered in a deep voice, "Kill!"

The Xun Family Army behind him was about to charge, Zhao Shen also raised his sword and shouted loudly: "Kill!"

From the houses on both sides of the street, figures swiftly emerged on the opposite side, pulling their bows to the full, and at Zhao Shen’s command, they released the arrows in unison. Once the arrows were shot, they immediately ducked back down, and a new row of soldiers emerged behind them to shoot down again...

This is the main street of Meng County, very wide, but no matter how wide the street is, as a battlefield, it is narrow. The archers on the rooftops don’t need to aim precisely, as long as they shoot downward, they will likely hit someone.

Naturally, some arrows were aimed at Xun Xiu. He wielded his knife to block the arrows, seeing many soldiers dead and injured, he couldn’t help but rage, "You despicable Zhao brat!"

Zhao Shen looked astonished, "You ungrateful traitor, how dare you call my normal ambush despicable? Then what are you?"

"You, you—" Xun Xiu, incandescent with rage, completely forgot to wait for the soldiers from behind to come forward and charge together. He directly raised his knife and rode towards Zhao Shen...

Zhao Shen was waiting for him, his gaze sharp. When Xun Xiu charged forward swinging his knife down, Zhao Shen bent his body, quickly stepped to the side like a swallow, dodging the blade, his foot gripped the ground, his body pivoted, sweeping a semicircle with his foot as the center, his sword horizontally slashing fiercely at the horse’s leg...

The warhorse neighed, raising its hooves high, causing Xun Xiu’s next strike to miss, and he was thrown off.

At that moment, Zhao Shen also dodged the descending hooves, leaped to the side to stand, panting slightly, he looked at Xun Xiu with a smile, "Now that’s fair."

Otherwise, being on foot, he would be at a disadvantage.

Xun Xiu knew he couldn’t give Zhao Shen the chance to speak; his mouth was truly annoying, so as soon as he steadied himself, he charged at Zhao Shen.

Zhao Shen fearlessly came forward to meet him, and the soldiers behind him also shouted loudly, following to charge ahead.

The main street was instantaneously engulfed in chaos.

No one knows how long the fight lasted, but gradually the number of people on the street dwindled. The Zhao Family Army and the refugee army led by Zhao Shen were fewer. They had less than four thousand men, while Xun Xiu had more. Just as Zhao Shen was barely holding on, a shout of battle emerged, causing him to turn his head. Across from him, he saw flags bearing the "Xun" character.

Almost losing the strength in his hands, Zhao Shen desperately fought his way through a bloody path, looking around, he shouted, "Wenda, Wenda..."

Yan Wenda was exhausted, but had to respond, "Why are you shouting?"

In a deep and solemn tone, Zhao Shen said, "Take the remaining men and retreat, disperse into the streets, everyone save themselves!"

Having said that, he found Xun Xiu in the crowd, once again gathering his energy, he leaped up, stepping on people to attack Xun Xiu.

His eyes emitted a cold light, disregarding life and death.

Eliminating this battle, besides defeating the Xun Family Army militarily, there is another way: killing Xun Xiu.

Zhao Shen jumped in front of Xun Xiu, with sword in hand, he charged at Xun Xiu. This time, he no longer defended, only making killing moves. Xun Xiu’s trusted aides saw this, formed a joint attack, surrounded him, and charged forward. One person successfully killed the Zhao Family Army members blocking their way, turned around, and seeing Zhao Shen’s back completely exposed, immediately wielded a large knife to strike down fiercely. Zhao Shen felt the wind of the blade but didn’t move, resolutely stabbing Xun Xiu. Then his spine shivered, waiting for the knife to fall...

He felt it had been a long time, yet it was just a moment, but didn’t feel any pain. Without hesitation, he turned and leaped away, then took the chance to glance back, seeing the soldier who raised the knife with eyes wide open, an arrow through his brow. Startled, he traced the arrow’s tail to look far away.

He saw a young woman with her hair tied in a high ponytail, wearing a smoke-clad barbarian dress, lowering her bow, her gaze deep and intent on this battlefield. Zhao Shen met her eyes, feeling a calm within them. He vaguely guessed her identity but hadn’t yet spoken when a deafening cry resonated across the sky, "The Great General has returned to court, the Great General has returned to court—"

The Xun Family Army, having joined the battle freshly from outside the city, turned their heads suddenly to see Zhao Hanzhang, feeling a chill in their hearts, and without Zhao Family Army urging them to surrender or kill, they clattered their weapons to the ground themselves.

The people hiding indoors saw Zhao Hanzhang, instantly grew excited, disregarding the chaos outside, grabbed a basin and a stick from the kitchen, and ran out, banging the wooden basin loudly, shouting, "The Great General has returned to court, the Great General has returned to court..."

Hearing this, people rushed out, one call spurring two, two calls spurring four, and the voices instantaneously reverberated throughout the entire city.

Zhao Shen still held his sword tightly, staring at the Xun Xiu’s troops surrounding him. But seeing Zhao Hanzhang, their hands trembled, scattered, ceased attacking Zhao Shen.

As soon as they dispersed, Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze directly met Xun Xiu, who barely stood holding his knife.

Seeing her, Xun Xiu couldn’t help but smile bitterly, knowing the situation was hopeless.

Thinking it was Zhao Shen’s feigned maneuver, he didn’t expect it to be a stall for time, Zhao Hanzhang had indeed returned to court, appearing very healthy, without signs of injury.

Zhao Shen’s sword hadn’t hit vital organs, but blood continued to pour from him. Without stopping the bleeding, he might die from excessive blood loss.

But now wasn’t the moment to think about that. Looking around, he saw familiar faces standing by him, feeling apologetic, realizing that chasing uncertain futures and defying rebellions had inadvertently led to losing lives.

Zhao Hanzhang’s rapid and silent arrival left him with no fallback.

Xun Xiu raised his knife to his throat, determined to end his life, when an arrow came, scraping his hand, and embedding into the ground, causing him pain and dropping the knife.

He looked surprised at Zhao Hanzhang, who shot the arrow.

The Xun Family Army laid down their weapons, the surviving Zhao Family Army and Zhao Hanzhang’s forces enclosed them, escorting them to one side. Only then did Zhao Hanzhang hand her bow to Zhao Kuan behind her, riding forward.

Zhao Shen saw the crowd open a path for Zhao Hanzhang, his eyes flashing, fervently watching her.

His gaze was so intense that Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but glance at him, but quickly turned her attention to the disheartened Xun Xiu.

Riding on horseback, Zhao Hanzhang looked down at him and asked, "Where is Wang Han?"

Xun Xiu glared at her, and after a moment, more defeated, he said, "In my residence."

Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at Zhao Kuan.

Zhao Kuan understood but before leaving on his horse, he greeted the youth on the ground: "Shen"

Zhao Shen’s eyes were bright, staring at him for a moment before yielding an "Ah", "Brother Kuan, you’ve darkened? No longer look like a family dunce."

With a gentle expression as ever, Zhao Kuan ignored his jest, only introduced, "This is the Great General, Third Sister."