Wu Caiwei couldn't help but frown when she saw the situation. The Emperor was a wise ruler; he wouldn't be unaware that the war in front was urgent. The fact that he only sent so many reinforcements indicated that the imperial court's military strength was limited. Where had all those soldiers been deployed?
Suddenly, she stood up abruptly, startled by her own thoughts. The governor, seeing her unusual reaction, quickly asked, "What's wrong? Did you think of something?"
Wu Caiwei asked with some trepidation, "Governor, haven't you always said that you haven't encountered such a situation in many years, with reinforcements arriving so late? Have you ever considered that the imperial court might be in trouble? These hundred thousand soldiers are already the greatest aid the court can provide?"
"You mean, they colluded and attacked our celestial empire simultaneously, thus diverting our troops?" The governor exclaimed, almost in a shriek. If that were the case, the celestial empire would be in peril, and they would have to rely on themselves.
"Of course, this is just my speculation." Seeing the governor standing there blankly, Wu Caiwei felt some sympathy. Although the situation was unclear, her guess was likely true. This meant that with unequal forces, they had to win the battle to survive.
"A bunch of cowards! If you have the guts, fight me head-on. Don't hide behind the city walls like scared turtles!" A burly man on a tall horse charged forward first, shouting.
"What kind of hero hides in the rear? A true man should die on the battlefield wrapped in horsehide. Are you going to hide forever?" As he yelled, the Xiongnu on the other side erupted in roaring laughter.
Everyone knew the might of the Xiongnu. No matter how the Xiongnu insulted them, they remained unfazed. However, Wu Caiwei knew that some people's relatives and friends had been killed by the Xiongnu. If possible, they truly wished to annihilate the enemy.
Besides, in a confrontation between two armies, if one side taunts and the other dares not fight, it affects morale. If the two armies clashed and their own soldiers were timid and afraid to advance, they would immediately be at a disadvantage. This was a major military taboo. The opposing side, on the other hand, was already numerous and ferocious, which would undoubtedly create psychological pressure on everyone.
After some thought, Wu Caiwei signaled the governor to open the city gates. What she could figure out, the governor naturally understood. Although he was somewhat concerned for her safety, at this critical moment, he had no one else to send. After all, the Xiongnu were extraordinarily brutal. Besides Wu Caiwei, he couldn't think of anyone else who could face them without being at a disadvantage.
"I'll go with Miss Wu. If anything happens, I can look after her. Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, I'll guarantee her safety," General Liu said, patting his chest, stepping forward first.
Wu Caiwei hesitated for a moment and then nodded. It wasn't that she felt she would need his help, but rather that if she managed to capture one or two enemy soldiers, she would need General Liu to tie them up and bring them back.
The Xiongnu, seeing that their efforts had only produced a single woman, roared in anger. The celestial empire clearly did not take them seriously. Without even reporting their names, they drew their spears and charged forward, intending to teach this arrogant woman a lesson and show her that the battlefield was not a place to be trifled with.
Seeing the opponent's recklessness, Wu Caiwei couldn't help but think of General Liu behind her. They were quite a match. Were all those who fought on the battlefield brave but foolish? As the opponent charged in front of her, she quickly drew her sword to meet him.
The Xiongnu general's lips curved into a sinister smile. His spear was no ordinary spear. Although it looked like it was made of wood on the outside, it was iron within. To face him with just a sword was a gross underestimation of his strength.
However, the moment they clashed, he realized he had underestimated the woman. The pain in his tiger's mouth made him anxious. He was undefeated among the Xiongnu, yet he was struggling against a young woman. He quickly used all his strength to flick the sword pressing on his spear away and feigned a thrust towards her heart, intending to stab her arm instead.
Wu Caiwei had only been testing his skills earlier. Now, with full confidence, she advanced a few steps with speed and precision. She grabbed the spear shaft with one hand and thrust her sword towards his heart with the other.
The sword met the armor, emitting a grating sound. Although it didn't hit a vital spot, it still caused a searing pain in his chest. Worse still, he found himself flung from his horse. The next moment, he landed on the ground, feeling as if his body had fallen apart. He couldn't get up for a long time.
When the sword rested on his neck, he knew he was finished. General Liu quickly stepped forward, producing the ropes he had prepared, and began to bind him securely.
A commotion immediately broke out among the Xiongnu. Two warriors exchanged glances and rode out together. They hadn't expected this woman to be so formidable, capturing their foremost warrior. This time, they would combine their efforts to keep her here, otherwise, she would surely become a serious threat to them.
Wu Caiwei looked at the two calmly. In fact, when facing the first warrior, she had held back and not used her full strength. If she had displayed extreme ferocity from the start, it would indeed have intimidated the enemy, but it would also have instilled fear, making them reluctant to fight.
Seeing that she had lured out two more, as they charged towards her on their horses, she unleashed her true skills. The sword in her hand seemed to possess a life of its own, and only afterimages could be seen. The opponents had no idea how they were attacked; they only knew that in the blink of an eye, they were on the ground with a sword pointed at their necks.
General Liu, delighted, stepped forward again. He had expected this outcome. His martial arts were not bad either. Although not as good as the Xiongnu, he was still renowned in the celestial empire. Under Miss Wu's hands, they could only last a few more rounds at most, not even one. It was impossible to escape from her grasp.
The second prince, now the Crown Prince, saw that morale had been hit and was somewhat low. Gritting his teeth, he decided to go all out and issued an order to execute the two captured warriors outside the city walls.
Upon discovering their intention, Wu Caiwei directly pulled General Liu, who still wanted to bring the three captives along. At this point, she finally understood why the governor would always get a headache whenever he mentioned him. Although he was very brave, he sometimes failed to distinguish between matters of priority. At a life-or-death moment, why was he still concerned about the captives? Shouldn't he prioritize his own safety?
Seeing that the situation was dire, the governor quickly ordered the archers to prepare. Once Wu Caiwei and General Liu had successfully approached the city walls, he promptly ordered them to fire.
As one Xiongnu soldier was shot and fell, others immediately filled his place. They were nearing the city gate, with more Xiongnu in hot pursuit.
The governor was trembling. He couldn't bear to watch the woman die on the battlefield, yet he couldn't violate his conscience by opening the city gates. He had to protect the civilians behind him and not disregard their lives.