Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Achievements! Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Achievements! Tuoba Hong lay on the couch, touching the knife wound on his chest. The bleeding had stopped, but it would surely leave a big scar.

While aggravated, he thought of Zhan Hui’s arm also being wounded by a blade because of him, and so he laughed viciously.

“Zhan Family, wait for the revenge of the Western Rong!”

The King of Western Rong, hearing that out of the first battle’s hundred thousand soldiers, seventy thousand had died, flew into a rage!

His anger spread throughout his body, and with a fierce push, he shoved away the beauty by his side, stood up, and commanded loudly: “All troops, be prepared. Attack Fengyu Pass before nightfall!”

His eyes narrowed, thinking to himself: Initially ordering Tuoba Hong as the vanguard officer was because he knew about Nanjin. Having bribed some treacherous officials of Nanjin, he thought he could negotiate and possibly achieve victory without deploying a single soldier.

Never would he have imagined that Tuoba Hong would be so obstinate and self-willed, lusting for military glory, and even allowing the enemy to kill seventy thousand of their soldiers without effort!

The King of Western Rong drew the sword from his waist and said coldly: “Execute Tuoba Hong before the battle commences!”

…

Unlike the Western Rong army’s despondent state, the Zhan Family Army had a great morale boost after winning the first battle.

Zhan Hui’s performance in this battle was particularly outstanding.

Moreover, with Zhan Lan’s own strength, she had actually forced the Western Rong army to retreat, a fact known by all within the Zhan Family Army.

Zhan Beicang, Zhan Hui, Zhan Feng, and the other Deputy Generals were immensely proud of their victory in the first battle!

Zhan Beicang looked at Zhan Lan with a beaming smile, “Truly impressive, the younger generation! Zhan Lan, Zhan Hui, you two have achieved great merit today!”

Several Deputy Generals also cast admiring glances at Zhan Lan.

In the face of Zhan Beicang’s praise, Zhan Lan merely smiled faintly.

Her heart was filled with anxiety, knowing that the Western Rong had just lost seventy thousand soldiers, they would definitely launch a more fierce attack.

After Zhan Beicang spoke, his expression turned solemn, and he said in a serious voice: “The next frontal attack from the Western Rong will be even fiercer. Everyone eat quickly, take turns to rest, and wait for the battle!”

Zhan Feng, panting, set down his battle spear and looked at Zhan Lan with a dark expression.

Today, he too fought desperately, so why wasn’t he praised by Zhan Beicang, and instead, Zhan Hui and Zhan Lan stole the spotlight!

Zhan Feng returned to his own tent, and when the little soldier brought the meal, he disparaged: “Why is there so little meat in today’s meal, and even the rice is brown rice!”

The cook soldier dared not argue, simply responding: “Little General, please wait a bit. Supplies will be delivered tomorrow!”

Zhan Lan was on top of the city wall, squatting on the ground, her head down as she picked at the brown rice with her chopsticks. There wasn’t much meat and vegetables, but it was enough to eat.

With hands that were calloused, she took two bowls of brown rice from the big bowl.

After eating, she leaned against the city wall to sleep, and upon closing her eyes, all she could feel was the nauseating smell of blood in the air.

Zhan Lan coughed twice; she had just started her life and already despised war!

She longed for an era of great peace.

Longing for the scent of flowers, fruit, and wine in the air.

Longing for the ones she cared about to live a secure life.

But being born into a family of generals, perhaps this was her destiny!

…

Come evening, the Western Rong army attacked.

“To battle!”

Zhan Beicang, ready to confront the attack, gave the order.

Behind him, the sound of battle drums erupted like a sudden storm, thundering and reverberating through heaven and earth.

Accompanied by the urgent drum beats, the Zhan Family Army lined up for battle!

Even though the Western Rong suffered a defeat in the first battle, they were yet to show signs of losing.

In terms of overall numbers, they still outnumbered the Zhan Family Army by thirty thousand!

Furthermore, the soldiers of Western Rong grew up on horseback.

Looking at the overall situation, the real strength of Western Rong remained potent.

Zhan Lan was clear in her heart that this battle was not sufficient to overthrow Western Rong; her grandfather had suppressed Western Rong in his previous life, preventing them from invading for five years.

However, a battle still ensued after five years, which lasted for a year. It was after defeating the Western Rong that father was killed by the hands of his own!

Looking through history, foreign invasions most often occur when a country is internally troubled, attracting the covetous gaze of barbarians from beyond.

Only true power can deter them, making them retreat at the mere sight of strength!

If it weren’t for the defense of the Zhan Family Army, today’s Nanjin might have already been swallowed up by the Western Rong!

Zhan Lan put away her memories and gazed towards the approaching Western Rong army.

Their formation comprised of an inverted triangular phalanx, with tens of thousands of horses thundering and the earth trembling beneath. Their roaring cries blanketed the skies, deafening to the ear!

The Western Rong army, with an intimidating aura, launched their assault towards Fengyu Pass!

With an army of two hundred and thirty thousand, it was difficult to spread out quickly. The Western Rong army grouped themselves into tens of thousands, attacking the Zhan Family Army from several directions!

The front ranks of the Western Rong army held shields, fending off the arrow assault of the Zhan Family Army.

Amidst the hail of arrows, the densely packed Western Rong soldiers, undaunted by death, continued to charge forward even as rows of their comrades fell, trampling over their bodies with bloodshot eyes.

Arrows, fireballs, rocks, and gunpowder poured down from the first line of defense, striking at the Western Rong army.

The rope ladders erected by the Western Rong army were cut down by the Zhan Family Army, only for new ladders to be promptly erected as they scaled the walls like ghosts.

Today, before setting out on the campaign, the King of the Western Rong had executed Tuoba Hong!

Those who lacked resolve would face the same fate as Tuoba Hong.

The Zhan Family Army fought fearlessly, clashing head-on with the Western Rong forces in fierce combat.

“Kill!” The warriors’ shouts boomed like thunder.

Boom!

The two armies finally collided with ferocity, turning the vast desolate land into a cacophony of human voices and horses’ hooves, with the clamor of battle never ceasing.

Due to his lack of combat experience, the young General Zhan Feng was mainly responsible for defending the walls.

Zhan Beicang led a team to meet the enemy head-on, while Zhan Hui and a group of Deputy Generals were also embroiled in the fierce melee.

“Fight for the people of Nanjin! Kill!” The spirit of the Zhan Family Army was relentless, their voices resounding through heaven and earth.

Zhan Lan on the watchtower cut down Western Rong soldiers climbing up with curved blades.

After impaling one with her spear, she used the butt of her spear to fling another newly-climbed enemy off the wall, doing so with such force that he fell to his death, impaled by the iron spikes below.

An hour into the battle, Zhan Lan’s armor was stained with dripping blood that splattered on the ground.

From atop the watchtower, she surveyed the entire battlefield; the ground was dyed red, the scene even more gruesome, indistinguishable whether the corpses were of the Zhan Family Army or the Western Rong forces.

“Kill, for the rivers and mountains of Nanjin!” She could only hear the undiminished fighting spirit of the Zhan Family Army.

Amidst the bloodshed, Zhan Lan surprisingly spotted Mu Yan; he was bravely fighting off an encirclement of enemies alone, mounted on a Ferghana horse and without a hint of fear.

At his side were always men in black armor, presumably the Xingtian Department.

Observing the valiantly fighting Mu Yan, Zhan Lan’s impression of him changed; perhaps he too was a commendable person!

At least in this moment, his appearance fighting alongside the Zhan Family Army against the enemy was utterly heroic!

The battle raged on for a day and a night.

The next afternoon, finally, due to a lack of supplies, the Western Rong army withdrew to their camp.

Zhan Lan, covered in blood, collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

The weary Zhan Family Army rested on the spot.

The Western Rong forces were too fierce; today’s battle ended with heavy losses on both sides, matched equally in strength.

The cooks hurriedly brought supplies.

The soldiers, who had starved for a day and a night, devoured their meals voraciously. The candlelight reflected off their faces, showing they had drained the last of their energy, fatigued and numb.

The Zhan Family Army’s hearts carried their country, but Zhan Lan, who had lived once more, had only the entire Zhan Family and Zhan Family Army in her heart!

She wasn’t fighting for the Emperor, but for the people she cared about, to live a good life!

While everyone was immersed in the aroma of the meal, a crisis emerged in the ranks of the Zhan Family Army.