Not Your Typical Villianess

Chapter 180: Endgame 3

Ningzhuo, Northern Wei.

As Lu Yaozhu predicted, they were surrounded a few miles away from Ningzhuo. The Crown Prince of Chu state, Chu Xiaosi at high on black stead, dressed in a silver full armour he came forward with his left and right-wing generals following him behind.

Every member of this army was personally trained by Chu Xiaosi himself and answered only to him. They were the famous Silver army of Chi state, a very elite team of soldiers

We meet again, General." Crown Prince Chu Xiaosi said smirking. He had been looking forward to this showdown since Zhongshan Cheng approached him months ago. After some very careful planning, he had concocted a plan with high possibilities of success.

Chu Xiaosi looked at the soldiers under Lu Yaozhu's command and smiled. Their numbers were two times smaller than the soldiers he brought with him. 

"In war, numbered do not lie, General. You and your men are down to one person to six of my men. Which I must admit doesn't seem fair. For old times sake. I am willing to let your men go if you surrender yourself to me. What do you think?"

Lu Yaozhu's Lips tugged up, "No, I swire to protect my fellow citizens of Northern Wei. Soldiers of Northern Wei does not take hand me downs. You should keep such worthless offers to yourself "

Zhu Xiaosi chuckled, "You arrogant little_ I knew you would reject my offer but today that too. You have a lot of nerve but don't worry. I will destroy your precious little pride" his gaze moved to the soldiers behind him him Lu Yaozhu, they looked exhausted. "The offer to join the winning side of this battle is open to everyone, not just General Lu. You have all been through a lot protecting Northern Wei for an Emperor that does not appreciate loyal officials".

He glanced at Lu Yaozhu, holding Lu Yaozhu's sharp gaze steadily as he said the next sentences. "Don't bother waiting for reinforcements cause you won't get any. You should have learned from your last battle, Emperor Zhong sees you as an eyesore. As long as you or your brother are the ones asking for reinforcements, he would never approve the transfer of any reinforcement.

"Sad isn't it that no matter what you do, his majesty would never see past your family name and relationship with the Empress. The worse person to be at odds with is a jealous Emperor, he prefers to lose a foothold in the north as far as it gets you killed. Bet you now wish that you had taken my offer, well it is too_"

He was interrupted by arrows raining down on him from all angles, "Who? How is that possible" he exclaimed bending low on his horse to avoid an arrow. The sudden attack unsettled Chu Xiaosi, his commanders immediately rushed forward and surrounded him. They did up shield and knocked away the arrows aimed at him with their swords.

Lu Yaozhu unsheathed his sword and raising it high shouted, "attack!!!"

His men unsheathed their swords and rushed forward. A team of the Lu family's special team rushed out of the bushes and joined in. They were able to push through until the silver army from Chu state were depleted to half of their numbers. Although they lost a considerable amount of men, Lu Yaozhu was able to pull his soldiers forward to the battlefield at Ningzhuo's gate. 

Lu Yaozhu joined in with the rest of the team, Chu states had nearly broken past Commander Bai barricade. The soldiers surrounding Chu Xiaosi all moved out until it was down to Lu Yaozhu and Chu Xiaosi. Lu Xiaosi raised his sword to deflect Chu Xiaosi's blow still on horseback. He charged forward with his award, nearly missing, Chy Xiaosi's shoulder by a few inches. 

The force of the blow and the speed of his movement to avoid the hit, made Chu Xiaosi lose balance and nearly fall off his horse. Chu Xiaosi grabbed the reins of his horse to steady himself as he fell. The horse pull his head forward in protest but Chu Xiaosi resisted, hanging halfway down the horse. He used the reins and helped himself to his feet, a sword came towards his neck as soon as his foot touched the ground.

Squatting quickly, Chu Xiaosi missed the stroke and rolled away. Lu Yaozhu rushed forward, he brought down his sword but was once again deflected by Chu Xiaosi who raised his sword over his head. The Sword dance between the two continued while the fighting continued around them.

There was a sudden flash of light into his eyes from the side, blocking his line of sight. Lu Yaozhu instinctively raised his hands to shield his eyes, in that split second an arrow was shot from behind and in front of him. Lu Yaozhu heard a "swish" sound from in front and brought his sword down. He blocked the arrow but his back was quickly pierced by another arrow.

Lu Yaozhu hissed in pain, his back curved in as the arrow dived into his back. A split second later another arrow pierced his right shoulders. The sword in his hand fell as the sword hit the tendon at his joints, Lu Yaozhu stepped aside with difficulty to avoid Chu Xiaosi's sword. Based on the accuracy and direction of both arrows, Lu Yaozhu suspected that the archer must be next to or in front of Commander Bai's barricade.

Lu Yaozhu held his injured hands to his chest, tolerating the pain, he shifted sideways and moved about slowly to avoid Chu Xiaosi's sword. All this he did to determine the direction of the archer, once he had the right direction calculated. Lu Yaozhu moved to stand at the archer's sight, he reduced his pace to give a false sense of weakness.

Based on the target accuracy of the archer, he could tell the true strength of the archer's strength. Lu Yaozhu could tell that the archer wasn't well trained and as such would rely a lot on the positioning of his target. He had practised archery for decades and could easily identify these things. Using himself as bait to convince both the archer and Chu Xiaosi to make a move. His reduced pace allowed Chu Xiaosi to slash him at the side and on his arm but he persisted. He stood in the sight long enough for the archer to shoot an arrow and Chu Xiaosi to rush forward sword raised. 

Once Chu Xiaosi was a few meters away, Lu Yaozhu squatted immediately. The arrow missed him and pierced the shorter Chu Xiaosi straight in the heart. The sword in Chu Xiaosi's hands fell to the ground as he stopped moving. Lu Yaozhu pulled a dagger out of his boots, stood and slashed Chu Xiaosi at his jugular before turning around to throw it straight into the neck of the archer who stood motionless as he watched his master die. The archer fell forward as the dagger pierced his neck.

"Your highness!!" Chu Xiaosi's guard suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's attention to the falling lifeless body of Chu Xiaosi. He ran forward to get to his master.

Yu Tao who was fighting a few distances away from Chu Xiaosi's guard was alarmed as he saw the arrows protruding from behind and in front of Lu Yaozhu. He rushed forward, he was closer than the other guards to where Lu Yaozhu stood. He ran forward still holding his sword, "young master", he called out when he got closer. 

Lu Yaozhu swayed as his vision doubled, the adrenaline was long gone in his system which meant that all the previously forgotten pain was brought up in two folds. Yu Tao increased his spread on seeing his master's pale face, he immediately stepped forward and caught his master as he fell forward.

"Young master" he cried out looking down at Lu Yaozhu's face. Lu Yaozhu, who was already delirious from loss of blood and pain, smiled at him sheepishly before blacking out. Two commanders from the Lu Family's private army Commander Wang and Commander Sun rushed forward to help Lu Yaozhu Up. 

Meanwhile, Chu Xiaosi's guard knelt on his master's side. He brought his hand up to Chu Xiaosi's nose and felt for breath. Where he felt nothing he placed his head on his master's chest and felt no heartbeat. "Your Highness is_" he stopped at glanced at the enemy soldiers standing around and shouted, "Retreat!! Let us get back to camp!"

While the silver army retreated, the two commanders, led by Yu Tao carried Lu Yaozhu through the city gate. Commander Bau sent over a stretcher and they carried Lu Yaozhu straight to the governor's mansion. You Tao immediately sent word for the Lu Family's private surgeon, Surnamed Chen. 

The surgeon was currently stationed at the secret camp at the northern border with Su Liya. You, Tao, sent a small team to inform Su Liya of the general condition and transport her back to Ningzhuo. The battle gas ended following the crown prince's death so the silver army stationed around Ningzhuo withdrew. 

Meanwhile back at the Capital the soldier with the request for reinforcement was received by the entire court.