CHAPTER 461: CHAPTER 455 INAPPROPRIATE

Beigong Chun lived in a small alley, in a two-section courtyard, where only a carriage could pass through the entrance.

Moreover, he wasn’t living alone; the brothers he brought out lived with him. More than a dozen men occupied the place, without even a servant. Their personal soldiers took care of them.

Upon reaching the door, Wu Erlang looked left and right and immediately sighed, "General Beigong has been wronged."

The guards following Wu Erlang nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Unlike Wu Erlang, the guards accompanying him were selected from the army to protect the caravan. These people had been to the battlefield with Zhao Hanzhang and had seen Beigong Chun.

Such a formidable person, whom their mistress always received with utmost courtesy and respect, was now arranged to live in such a place.

As a general who galloped across the battlefield, even two horses could barely stand side by side in front of the door. It’s truly excessive!

Wu Erlang personally stepped forward to knock on the door.

After a short while, the door opened, and a one-eyed man with a scarred face opened it. The remaining eye stared sharply at Wu Erlang, "Who are you, and whom do you seek?"

Wu Erlang hurriedly cupped his hands, "I am Wu Erlang, coming from Ru Nan County. Passing through Chang’an, I heard that General Beigong is here and came specially to pay my respects."

He took out a card and raised it above his head, "My master is an old acquaintance of General Beigong. Please convey this message for me."

The one-eyed doorman glanced at the card, his face improved, took it, and then slammed the door shut.

Wu Erlang didn’t mind. He once walked the road, being disliked even by dogs; now it was much better. Remembering his mistress’s instructions, he perked up with determination.

The mistress had said that no matter what, Beigong Chun must be protected. If he could be invited to Yu State, it would naturally be best. If not, he must be assisted in returning to Xiliang, certainly not letting Prince Nanyang benefit.

Originally, Zhao Hanzhang intended to say, absolutely do not let the Later Han benefit, because historically, Beigong Chun surrendered to Liu Cong.

However, Zhao Hanzhang did not feel that this was Beigong Chun’s problem.

Beigong Chun had a significant feud with Liu Cong. He drove back Liu Cong’s attacks on Chang’an twice, causing the Xiongnu people to fear this general greatly. He always wanted to return to Liang Province but was constantly hindered.

Even so, he didn’t give up, settling in the place with his brothers when unable to return, wholeheartedly dedicating himself to the Jin State. If not for someone treating him shabbily, leading to him being unable to protect his brothers, he would never have surrendered to Liu Cong against his heart.

Even after surrendering, this general neglected his duties. Although appointed to a high position by Liu Cong, he never went on an expedition for the Later Han. When internal chaos occurred in the Later Han, he even harbored the idea of correcting the mistakes, but in the end...

Alas, these secrets could only be shared with Fu Tinghan and definitely not told to Wu Erlang, so she shifted the focus, directly replacing it with Prince Nanyang.

What Wu Erlang heard was that their mistress was planning to compete with Prince Nanyang for someone, and much rather aid General Beigong in returning to Xiliang than let Prince Nanyang benefit.

Wu Erlang saw Prince Nanyang as the opposition, with Beigong Chun being the important person to be won over on their side, so he took a very humble stance.

The letter card was Zhao Hanzhang’s.

Beigong Chun was surprised to see Zhao Hanzhang’s card in Chang’an and, after a brief moment of thought, had his men invite them in.

Wu Erlang, as soon as he entered the main hall, lifted his robe and knelt, "Greetings, General."

Beigong Chun hurriedly asked him to rise, slightly frowning, "Are you Zhao General’s..."

"I am a servant of my mistress, ordered to conduct business outside to earn some funds for the army," Wu Erlang humbly said, "Upon arriving in Chang’an, I heard the General was here. All in Yu State feel indebted for the General’s life-saving kindness. Our mistress also holds the General in high esteem, hence I dared to come and disturb you."

He turned around, and his guards immediately moved forward with two boxes.

Wu Erlang bowed, "These are local products brought from Ru Nan, not much of valuable items, yet a token of our Yu State’s regard. Please, General, do not disdain them."

Hearing this, Beigong Chun accepted it without opening, letting them be carried away, then asked carefully, "I later heard that Prince East Sea sent troops south. I wonder how Yu State is faring and how Zhao General is doing?"

Confined in Chang’an, he wasn’t well-informed. Although Prince Nanyang tried to retain him, he only let him train and lead troops, so many pieces of news couldn’t reach him.

Upon hearing these words, Wu Erlang became even more respectful and began to detail the events of Prince East Sea moving south.

Upon learning that Fu Tinghan was injured in battle, Beigong Chun became concerned, "Is Mr. Fu alright?"

Such a formidable person, it would be a shame if he perished on the battlefield.

Wu Erlang quickly replied, "The eldest young master has recovered. Now, our mistress is the Yu State Governor, the disaster in Yu State has been quelled, and the civilians have settled down."

On hearing this, Beigong Chun let out a deep sigh, "With General Zhao’s character and ability, it’s only a matter of time before the civilians are settled, but it’s a pity not all places are assured."

Immediately, upon hearing this, Wu Erlang replied, "I saw numerous refugees outside the city when entering, living in makeshift shacks, with soldiers driving them away. What is that...?"

Beigong Chun spoke sadly, "Famine in Chang’an has reached the point of people eating human flesh. The refugees outside the city have nowhere else to go."

Upon hearing this, Wu Erlang, thinking of his past experiences, felt a dull pain in his heart and quickly asked, "Doesn’t the government provide relief?"

"A clever housewife cannot cook without rice; Prince Nanyang already intends to sell bronze ritual vessels to raise food, but how many people could that little grain feed?" Beigong Chun’s face was bitter. The two thousand soldiers he brought were also starving, only getting one meal a day, with no use in applying for military provisions.

If things went on like this, he feared even that one meal would be cut off; what would they do then?

Wu Erlang had no solutions either. Their mistress was capable, but he was not. He only knew how to sell the goods, earn money and transport it back to Yu State for the mistress. He understood nothing else.

After grieving for a while, Wu Erlang quickly inquired, "Our mistress misses the General very much. If the General were willing to go to Yu State, our mistress would be overjoyed."

Beigong Chun declined, as Chang’an was not far from Xiliang. He still hoped Prince Nanyang would let him through, so that he could return home with his soldiers.

Thinking of his relatives and friends back home, the ashes in Beigong Chun’s heart were rekindled with vitality, and he once again restored his spirits, declining Wu Erlang’s suggestion.

Wu Erlang regretted it but could only leave, deciding to persuade him again next time, finding some other way to let him leave the pass and return to Xiliang, if persuasion failed.

After sending off Wu Erlang, Beigong Chun’s subordinates emerged from various corners, "General, it’s unexpected that General Zhao still remembers you and even specially sent local products."

Beigong Chun truly felt Zhao Hanzhang’s sincerity and urgent desire for him. He stated, "We are to return to Xiliang, it is unsuitable with Yu State."

Saying this, he casually opened the box. The contents were dazzlingly bright, directly blinding Beigong Chun’s eyes, leaving him speechless for a moment.