Chapter 243.2: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 243.2: Don’t You Think It’s Absurd? (Continued)
“Single combat is fine.” Chang Suining raised her hand, pointing first at the Golden Deputy General, then herself, then Chang Kuo, and finally back to the soldiers behind Chang Kuo—ten or more in total—before stopping: “You alone, duel all thirteen of us.”
Xu Zhengye: “……”
The Golden Deputy General and the others pointed at were strangely silent.
The idea conveyed by this kind of “single combat” seemed far too unconventional, difficult for others to accept—especially the opponent.
Xu Zhengye had no desire to speak further to this spouting girl, yet Chang Kuo let her talk freely, not interrupting at all, acting almost like a loyal old hound, wagging its tail in agreement with no independent will.
Xu Zhengye could only coldly laugh: “Young lady, don’t you find this absurd?”
“Absurd?” Chang Suining paused in mock thought: “Compared to the prime General Xu, well-fed, coming to challenge my father—who hasn’t eaten all day and is near exhaustion—single-handedly, it doesn’t seem so absurd.”
“In that case, my proposal that General Xu duel all thirteen of us, who are utterly exhausted, seems reasonable, doesn’t it?”
Xu Zhengye’s expression shifted; a sarcastic, cold smile appeared in his eyes.
Some things may be true, but speaking them aloud would show reckless boldness.
After all, who currently held the initiative was clear before him.
He narrowed his eyes: “It seems the Chang family lady is determined to use the lives of her soldiers to score points in rhetoric, insisting on acting on impulse.”
“Not necessarily,” Chang Suining smiled faintly: “General Xu, making such a bold proposal to duel my father, may wish to resolve this quickly—not just to avoid further troop losses, but perhaps also to advance his strategy of continued assault on Hezhou, beyond what it appears on the surface?”
Yun Hui and the Deputy General did not understand.
Xu Zhengye’s eyes, however, showed subtle change.
Was she bluffing, or… did she know something? Had she prepared in advance?
Seeing his hesitation, Chang Suining confirmed her suspicion, calming her heart.
During battle, with the city gates closed, Hezhou was in a precarious position and messages could not be sent promptly—but Xu Zhengye was different. Controlling the surrounding cities and routes, he would surely have timely information.
Chang Suining exchanged a glance with Chang Kuo.
Xu Zhengye weighed the situation briefly, looking toward the Hezhou city gate before him, his thoughts racing.
He had already spent too much time and lost too many troops to take Hezhou… if he withdrew now, letting them recover and reinforce, it would only make a future assault more difficult.
Hezhou—he must take it!
As for the earlier disturbance—it might not even be related to Hezhou…
The deputy at his side could no longer contain his desire for revenge, glancing fiercely at the Hezhou army, then cupped his fists to report: “Please, General, give the order!”
The Deputy General and the others, taut as bowstrings, watched Xu Zhengye closely.
Snowflakes flickered in the torchlight. Xu Zhengye focused and said firmly: “Soldiers, follow me to assault the city! Today, your lodging will be within Hezhou city!”
He could not let a minor disturbance stall him and waste the opportunity!
With the general’s banner waved, the army began forming ranks, ready to surge forward.
Xu Zhengye’s name alone carried prestige and morale. With fifty thousand soldiers under him, leading personally, he now treated Hezhou as already in his grasp.
The Hezhou soldiers behind Chang Kuo were fatigued or wounded; no amount of fighting spirit could sustain their exhausted bodies.
“Wait!” At the critical moment, Chang Kuo suddenly raised his hand.
Xu Zhengye looked at him.
Chang Kuo swung his sword: “Come, I’ll duel you first!”
Xu Zhengye sneered: “Too late!”
With that, he raised his hand again, and the army surged forward.
“Who says it’s too late?” Chang Suining said, taking something out, lighting its fuse on a torch held by a nearby soldier, then tossing it into the air.
The object rose into the night sky, bursting with a loud sound into golden fireworks.
Everyone’s gaze followed instinctively.
The fireworks quickly faded, leaving only the faint smell of gunpowder and residual ash drifting with the snow.
Soon, a similar sound arose again.
One burst, two, three…
But it no longer came from her hands.
Looking up, everyone saw golden fireworks appearing successively in the southwest night sky.
One, two, three…
—What was that?
—Who was responding?!
Everyone’s expressions changed in shock.
From that direction…
Xu Zhengye’s face tightened. He immediately signaled the army to halt and looked again at the girl.
Chang Suining met his gaze: “Not too late, just in time.”
Since Xu Zhengye reacted at the news, it proved the disturbance was nearby—thus, not late at all.
Yun Hui tried to tug at her armor, asking seriously: “Young Miss Chang, what is that…”
Chang Suining lowered her eyes: “Reinforcements.”
Reinforcements?!
Yun Hui stared, incredulous. Where would reinforcements come from? The imperial troops were now under Li Yi—how could they assist Hezhou?
Of course, they were not imperial reinforcements.
All of this traced back to a letter Chang Suining had sent out before coming to Hezhou.
“Reinforcements!”
“Our reinforcements have arrived!”
Shouts spread through the Hezhou army, and soldiers cheered.
Yun Hui, however, felt uneasy.
Based on his knowledge of Chang Suining… this talk of reinforcements could very well be a bluff!
As for the fireworks responding to her signal, perhaps she had secretly arranged people elsewhere to create the effect, intentionally misleading Xu Zhengye’s army…
Earlier, such a trick might have been enough to scare the enemy, but with Xu Zhengye present, they would not retreat easily.
Yun Hui’s heart raced, trying to read a clue from Chang Suining’s face, but she remained calm and composed.
He recalled the first time they met, when she pretended to have 100,000 reinforcements—she had been arrogantly invincible, even fooling him.
Now, Yun Hui’s anxiety was palpable; compared to actual reinforcements, he felt it would be more practical to pray for divine intervention… he wondered if it was too late to pray for the Buddha’s blessing now.
Until he truly heard the sound of galloping hooves approaching.
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