Inside Huai'an City, at the Zhang Family Compound.
The courtyards, layer upon layer, stretch endlessly.
Carved beams and painted rafters, flying eaves and brackets, showcasing the heritage of the Zhang family, a family with a history of over a century.
The head of the household, Zhang Ye, was being dressed and washed by his several concubines.
Living a life of luxury with fine clothes and sumptuous food, surrounded by wives and concubines, Zhang Ye's life was extremely extravagant.
As the head of the Zhang family, he enjoys supreme power and also bears the heavy responsibility of the family's rise and fall.
The Zhang family had strict rules and a clear hierarchy, comparable to an imperial palace.
Every morning, Zhang Ye would bathe and change his clothes before going to the ancestral hall to worship his ancestors, and then handle family affairs and inspect the family property.
His every move carried the authority of a superior.
At this moment, Zhang Ye was already burning incense and praying in the ancestral hall.
Behind him, a group of clansmen knelt and devoutly worshipped the ancestral tablets.
The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Suddenly, a loud bang shattered the tranquility of the ancestral hall.
Everyone turned around in astonishment, only to see a servant tumbling and crawling in.
His face was deathly pale, and he shouted incoherently:
"Master, something terrible has happened! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Zhang Ye frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.
He demanded sternly, "What's the matter? Speak slowly!"
"Master, enemy cavalry... have stormed into the city! They're... are heading straight for our Zhang family mansion!"
The servant reported this in a trembling voice.
The crowd inside the ancestral hall immediately erupted into chaos, with everyone discussing the matter.
Zhang Ye was also startled. Huai'an City was impregnable, so how could enemy cavalry suddenly break in?
He suppressed his inner turmoil and asked in a deep voice:
"Where did the enemy come from? How many are there?"
"No... I didn't know, Patriarch! They... they've already stormed into the inner city!"
The servants were terrified and began to stammer.
Zhang Ye's expression changed drastically as he realized the urgency of the situation.
He made a decisive decision and ordered, "Quickly! Close the gates! Gather all guards! Prepare to meet the enemy!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than another deafening explosion rang out.
Accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves and shouts of battle, they drew ever closer.
The Zhang family mansion was thrown into chaos, with servants fleeing in panic.
The guards were scrambling to organize a defense.
However, it was all too late.
Zhao Jianjia led her cavalry like a sharp knife, piercing the heart of the Zhang family mansion.
She was clad in armor, wielding a long spear, and looked incredibly heroic.
Behind her, hundreds of cavalrymen followed closely, their momentum fierce and unstoppable.
"Descending Tiger, you lead a Tiger Head Squad to break through the North Gate!"
Chen Qingwan roared hoarsely, the splattered blood droplets resembling tiny red stars in the firelight.
The tiger descending the mountain was taken aback, and subconsciously replied:
"Your Majesty, General Li instructed me to protect you at all times..."
"Protect?"
Enraged, Chen Qingwan laughed and cleaved the enemy soldier in front of her in two with a single stroke.
"Am I just some good-for-nothing? Hurry up and get going, stop dawdling!"
The tiger descending the mountain shrank its neck after being sprayed, and the empress became furious.
He was more terrifying than any mountain bandit he had ever encountered before.
He quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty! This humble general will surely take the North Gate!"
Having said that, he led a small team, crouching low, and rushed toward the north gate.
Ever since learning that Chen Qingwan was the Empress of Datong, Xia Shanhu has worked even harder.
For a king of a nation to have run into a bandit like himself is an incredible stroke of luck!
He needs to perform well; maybe he can get a high-ranking official position in the future and bring honor to his ancestors!
Chen Qingwan squeezed the horse's flanks with her legs, and the warhorse neighed and charged forward.
The sharp saber flashed with a cold light, decapitating an enemy soldier.
The enormous head shot skyward, and warm blood gushed out, soaking Chen Qingwan's black armor.
The headless corpse lay on the ground, where it was trampled into a bloody pulp by the hooves of the horses that followed.
"Release the arrows!" Chen Qingwan gave the order, and the cavalrymen took out arrows from their quivers, drew their bows, and nocked the arrows.
"Bang!" The bowstring vibrated, and thousands of arrows, with a sharp whistling sound, plunged towards the enemy army.
The rocket even ignited houses along the roadside, sending flames soaring into the sky and thick smoke billowing out.
"Split into three groups!" Chen Qingwan shouted the order.
"Five hundred men on each of the left and right flanks, the rest follow me and charge into the center!"
She only had a few thousand cavalrymen, but she had to fight with the momentum of a thousand troops.
At the same time, she ordered people to set fire to the entire city so that the enemy would not be able to figure out their true strength.
However, the Zhang family mansion was indeed easy to defend and difficult to attack, with high walls, thick walls, and numerous corner towers.
The Zhang family has been running the business for generations, and their wealth and resources are profound. This mansion is more like a fortress than a home.
But this could not deter Chen Qingwan's determination.
What she wanted was a swift and decisive victory, to crush the Zhang family with overwhelming force and intimidate Huai'an.
The heavy wooden door creaked under its own weight.
The moment the hole was completely opened, a cold glint flashed in Chen Qingwan's eyes.
With a sudden spur of his legs, he sent his warhorse charging into the Zhang family mansion with a neigh.
He gripped the horse-slaying saber tightly in his hand, its blade gleaming with a chilling light in the firelight.
Behind her, hundreds of cavalrymen followed closely, roaring as they surged into the Zhang family compound.
The thunderous sound of horses' hooves echoed through the courtyard, so loud it was deafening, and the servants inside scattered in all directions.
Although the Zhang family's guards were well-trained, they were caught off guard by such a swift and fierce attack.
They were caught off guard and unable to organize an effective defensive formation, let alone withstand the sudden cavalry charge.
Chen Qingwan's eyes were sharp as she surveyed the chaotic battlefield without the slightest hesitation.
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