06. The Battle for the Beauty 2

Rushed footsteps and curses outside the door caught Nie Linzhi's attention.

"We're under attack, we must go to the back up post!"

"But we can't leave here."

"Are you stupid? If there's no city then what's the point of protecting his bride!"

Heavy footsteps long gone and everything was quiet.

Moving her head and neck, Nie Linzhi tried to take off the gag on her mouth. This time she used her mouth and wiggled her arms to free her hand. The rope was tight and the one connected to the bed pole made it impossible for her to escape.

"Ma Zifeng you crazy head!"

A distinct drum sound could be heard and Nie Linzhi knew there was a full blown fight out there. She must leave this place or at least change her clothes, her survival could either be a curse or blessing depending how she staged this.

Nie Linzhi was too focused on untying herself, she failed to notice a man in black with a dagger behind her.

CRANK!

She finally saw the man and a trembling woman from smashing the man's head with a vase.

"Hey, hey! You did a good job," Nie Linzhi knew the maid was shocked, she was reacting purely out of instinct. "It's okay, it's okay. He's a bad person. Now untie me and leave this place together."

Nie Linzhi constantly comforted the maid and she was finally released. She squatted and checked on the assassin, it was a female assassin.

"Zhang Siyuan!"

The woman was one of Zhang Siyuan's attendants and she met her during their time together. Nie Linzhi realized that not only that man sent Feng Xinian to take the burn, but he arranged the water bandit to attack them that night.

Zhang Siyuan wanted her to be dead literally and figuratively.

"Don't stand there, you need money if you want to escape. Check the boxes over there, there's a lot of bank notes and jewelry." Nie Linzhi didn't say that to anyone in particular, but one of the other maids rummaged through the drawers. She nudged the maid who smashed the assassin's head, "Help me move her."

Han Junjie stood under the flag and ordered his men to attack the city.

Ma Zifeng climbed to the top of the city wall and directed the city's defense.

The clashing of swords and spears shook the earth while rain of arrows shook the sky. Stones rained down inside and outside the city wall, fireballs flew everywhere, and bodies scattered on the ground. It was like the sky was shattering and the earth was collapsing.

The city guards were the Chens best men, they were well trained and local people with family inside the city. No matter how fierce Han Junjie's offensive was, they couldn't surrender the fortress.

The sky was getting dark and the two sides were deadlocked with heavy casualties.

Han Junjie was impatient and he took the lead on the ladder, each of them risking their lives together to break into the city with their lord. The offensive was increasingly fierce and city guards fell back.

"Han Junjie you bastard! Fight me!"

Ma Zifeng slashed every enemy on his way.

The defenders of Hanli were already distraught, but seeing Ma Zifeng's vicious attack boost their morale. They move forward and retreat with him on the city wall.

In respect to Ma Zifeng's spirit for defending the city, Han Junjie charged and accepted his challenge.

At that moment, a blazing fire came from the direction of the governor's mansion. Next to it was the grain depot, a general dragged Ma Zifeng while the others blocked Han Junjie's attack.

The Chens had been governing for generations, the grain always stocked there and the reserve could feed the entire city for a full year. Fireworks were strictly controlled, but for some reason a fire broke out at such a critical point. The fire took advantage of the wind and spread raging despite the snow, turning the black sky into half red. There was a lot of noise and chaos in the city.

"Han Ji, the gate!"

Han Ji and his men slashed the enemy and opened the gate for Han troops.

While the top was the battle of the commanders, the ground was full of troops between troops.

Another loud sound drums were heard throughout the city and for a moment, the battlefield was silent. Thousands of pairs of eyes locked on the same place - the south gate. The yellow Chens' flag was dropped and replaced by a fiery red flag with a lion symbol.

"Impossible!"

"The south gate is broken in!"

"The south gate is falling!"

Shouts of frustration and disbelief spread among the soldiers. They were surrounded, they lost.

Han Ji shouted: "Let down your weapon! We won't attack you if you surrender!"

Knowing their commander was nowhere to be found, the soldiers threw their weapons and the heat of the battle gradually died down.

"My Lord, Ma Zifeng heads to the mansion."

"Catch him!"

The chased man took advantage of the chaos to escape. He could escape and make a comeback, but he couldn't let Nie Linzhi back to Han Junjie. He rushed to the mansion in one breath and saw that the direction of the fire was exactly where she was imprisoned.

The entire house was engulfed in fire and the beams continued to collapse. Standing outside the courtyard, a burst of scorching fire came and burned his face. He was forced to take a few steps back.

"A Lin you come out! A Lin!" he was shouting hoping for an answer.

He gritted his teeth and rushed in, only to see a blazing fire in the bridal chamber before being dragged out by his guards.

"Young Master, we must leave. Young Master!"

The guards were tense, they couldn't empathize with the kneeling man. Their lives were on the line after all.

"Scram! Get the hell out of my way!"

Ma Zifeng was full of anger, he hated himself, the heaven, and most importantly Han Junjie. he felt pain and regret, he knew she had perished. He did that, he tied her.

"Young Master, you can't mourn Miss Nie if you're also dead. Think about Miss Nie! She must've wanted you to live and remember her!"

Ma Zifeng touched his chest where a blue ribbon nestled. It was Nie Linzhi's ribbon he took from the carriage. He never thought it would be the last piece of her he had.

Han army had completely invaded the city and was heading in his direction.

"Protect her for me," Ma Zifeng threw his machete to the fire. His team escaped by climbing over the wall in the backyard.

A fierce battle finally ended at midnight.

The generals were imprisoned and the civil officials were in house arrest. Although the Han soldiers were exhausted and injured, they conquered Hanli. They were cheering despite their wounds.

Qian Kun handled the post battle casualty and resettlement matter.

Han Junjie followed Han Ji to where his female soldier was.

"My Lord, General Han."

The men saw the ashes of a back courtyard.

"What happened?"

"A nanny told me that Ma Zifeng prepared a wedding ceremony, but the battle came first. He tied the lady here and based on the burn marks and rope trails, she accidentally knocked a candle in the effort to free herself."

"Damn it!"

Captain Li Hui raised her head, she never saw General Han Ji shaken up before. Even if he lost tons of comrades or was hurt so badly by the enemy, he never wavered.

"Good job, Hui. Go to Mr. Qian for a new assignment."

"Yes, My Lord."

Han Ji massaged his temple, he wasn't the only one minding the alliance with the Nies, but he was definitely the most vocal. During the interaction with Nie Linzhi, he wasn't in his best behavior and the fact she was taken under his watch was the greatest hit for himself.

"Han Ji.."

"It's my fault, My Lord. Please punish me.."

The big man looked so humble, lowering his head while cusping his hand.

Han Junjie touched his shoulder, "It's not your fault, they plan it neatly. You don't see that coming.'

Something rang on Han Ji's mind, "My Lord.. I've investigated the attackers, they are just water bandits receiving money to harass the boats. They don't touch our boat at all."

"So they are purely just there to make you on edge?"

"Furthermore, there's a couple of horses going in the opposite direction from the lady's carriage. Maybe.. the kidnapper and Ma Zifeng are not on the same side."

"You mean the real kidnapper ran after MA Zifeng found them?"

"Yes."

"But the kidnapper's motive is clear, they looked for her. With only two people going, that means they knew each other. Do you think she wants to escape the marriage?'

"I don't dare, My Lord."

Didn't dare to speculate or didn't dare to confirm his assumption, Han Junjie might never have known what his subordinate's meant. "Investigate, Han Ji."

In the 18th year of King Xu's rule, the youngest son of the Hua county's warlord, Ma Zifeng kidnapped the bride of the Warlord of Han city, Duke Li - Han Junjie. In an effort to rescue the lady, the city fortress of Hanli - the place where Ma Zifeng held the lady hostage, was taken over from the Chens, but unfortunately a fire in the governor manor took the lady's life.

Ma Zifeng was nowhere to be found and Duke Li declared anyone who helped him would be the enemy of the Hans. The Duke personally led the mourning envoy to Junyu province and the lady was buried with her ancestors.

Nie Hoya - governor of Junyu province and the uncle of the bride, resigned from his position as the governor and by the grace of the king his position was given to his son - Nie Feiyu.

The battle was famous both for its heroism and romantic background, the people knew it as 'The Battle for the Beauty'.