CHAPTER 496: CHAPTER 490 REDEMPTION IN PROGRESS

Zhao Hanzhang: "Stop spouting nonsense, when did I ever insult you? I’m merely speaking the truth."

Standing next to Wang Zhang, Shi Le curled the corners of his mouth. He looked down on Wang Mi and Wang Zhang, yet was very wary of Wang Mi.

Among Liu Yuan’s generals, only Wang Mi is his equal, his achievements on par with Liu Yuan’s.

As the thought flashed by, Shi Le grew somewhat wary of Wang Mi. Zhao Hanzhang had already started sowing discord, "General Shi, you led your army to fend off Prince East Sea, and now that Prince East Sea is dead, no one can compare to your contributions to the Xiongnu Khanate. But what if Wang Mi leads his troops into Luoyang at this time?"

"Then whose achievements will weigh more?"

Wang Zhang’s face changed dramatically, hastily shouting, "General, this is Zhao Hanzhang’s incitement."

"Does this need my inciting? I’m merely reminding General Shi, do you dare say that Wang Mi hasn’t gone to Capital City?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Prince East Sea took away thirty thousand officers and civilians from Luoyang, now Luoyang is an empty city, the emperor has only a mere few hundred or a thousand at hand. It’s impossible to resist; they can’t even guard the palace gates, let alone the city gates."

"Wang Mi lets the general fight against thirty thousand alone without aid, proving his malicious intentions," Zhao Hanzhang said, "This time, whether or not General Shi succeeds in stopping Prince East Sea, he will still be able to swoop in and conquer Luoyang at minimal cost."

"When the history books are written, it will be Wang Mi, not General Shi, who destroyed the Jin Dynasty; it won’t be General Shi who ends this chaotic era but Wang Mi!"

Wang Zhang flew into a rage, "You slander with venomous words!"

Zhao Hanzhang sneered repeatedly, "Whether or not my words are venomous, just see if Wang Mi has gone to Luoyang."

Wang Zhang was choked speechless because Wang Mi indeed went to Capital City, such a great opportunity; unless Wang Mi is foolish, he wouldn’t go.

Shi Le squinted his eyes, shouted, "General Zhao, aren’t you a loyal minister of Great Jin? The emperor is in difficulty, why don’t you go to aid?"

Zhao Hanzhang retorted with a smile, "How does General Shi know I haven’t gone to help?"

Shi Le stared at her from afar, both were silent for a while.

Whether Zhao Hanzhang actually sent someone to rescue or was bluffing, everyone was secretly moving closer here.

Shi Le was undecided for a moment.

Primarily because Zhao Hanzhang’s actions were too perplexing. If you call her loyal, she does many things only a disloyal person would do, such as appointing herself as the Yu State Governor without the imperial decree, hiring officials, selecting talents, without consulting the court, deciding everything herself.

She seemed very ambitious.

But if you call her a traitorous minister wanting to replace Great Jin, she comes to rescue even Prince East Sea, whom she has a deep enmity with in times of trouble.

Besides loyalty to the Jin Dynasty, he really couldn’t find any other reason.

Looking at Zhao Hanzhang’s smiling face, Shi Le only felt like he was seeing a fox, really couldn’t tell if her words were truth or lies.

He simply discarded distractions and focused solely on reality.

After thinking seriously, he said, "We can negotiate."

Wang Zhang was surprised, "General!"

Shi Le glanced at him, then said to Zhao Hanzhang, "But it can’t be exchanged as you said. For ten thousand men, you must provide two chests of treasures."

Zhao Hanzhang frowned, "That’s too expensive, outside it only costs a few coins to buy a person."

Shi Le was fearless, "General Zhao can choose not to exchange."

Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment, finally said, "Fine, I’ll give you ten chests of gold and jewels for all these people, how about that?"

Shi Le curled the corners of his mouth, turned and whispered to Zhang Bin, Zhang Bin immediately led people to rush into the refugees, pulling out those dressed more elegantly. Soon a hundred people were dragged out and driven to the other side.

In front of the refugees, Sima Fan and the Wang Sisters were also dragged out.

Shi Le finally pointed at the remaining surrounded refugees and said, "These people, ten chests of gold and jewels."

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang see the Wang Sisters, her gaze met Wang Si Niang’s from afar, her expression somber, then she looked up at Shi Le and smiled brilliantly, gladly agreed, "Good!"

Zhao Hanzhang loudly said, "Fetch ten chests of gold and jewels, go receive the people!"

"Yes!"

The personal soldiers, four carrying a chest, a total of forty, went over there. Even facing the barbarians’ gaze, despite fear in their hearts, they walked steadily to the high platform.

The ten groups put down the chests, opened them for inspection.

Shi Le glanced down, seeing all golden and silver jewelry with pearls and gems inside, slightly nodded, waved for passage.

The forty men were at the rear, escorting fifty thousand refugees across the river, to the Zhao Family Army and Xiliang Army’s rear.

Some were injured, now weak and immobile, refugees helped each other, carrying or supporting them across.

The forty scattered, slowly following behind, spending two full quarters, until everyone reached the other side.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to Fu Tinghan, nodding, Fu Tinghan led people to bring all refugees to the rear, then divided them into teams to leave.

Beigong Chun watched quietly, seeing Fu Tinghan took less than two quarters, arranging the refugees who came one after another orderly, then having people escort them away.

Orderly, not a hint of chaos, not even a sound of noise, Beigong Chun couldn’t help but glance at Huang An.

Huang An noticed, secretly straightened his back, yesterday he fought enemies, rushing in battle for a day!

Seeing everyone had crossed, Shi Le said, "Zhao Family Army, payment settled, please leave."

Zhao Hanzhang, however, dismounted, walked to the water’s edge, jumped onto a rock, barely facing Shi Le across, "General Shi, why hurry? We just completed a transaction, you kept faith, I kept faith, with the first time, will the second be far behind?"

Without waiting for Shi Le to speak, she cheerfully said, "See, isn’t this second opportunity here?"

Zhao Hanzhang clapped her hands, immediately soldiers brought two chests over, opened the first one, inside were fine silks and satin, drawing more attention from the barbarians than jewels.

This was a beautiful item only Central Plains could produce, the barbarians could never replicate this craftsmanship.

Zhao Hanzhang casually picked up a piece of brocade, "Shu brocade, bright in color, clear in pattern, exquisite in craftsmanship, this piece in my hand is the finest among them, General Shi, how about I exchange this Shu brocade for one person with you?"

"You dare ask me for two to three dozen men for one pearl, you exchange one person for such a piece of brocade?" Shi Le laughed disdainfully, "Who does General Zhao want to exchange?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s finger pointed straight at Wang Yan, "Exchange for our Wang Sikong!"

Shi Le wasn’t foolish, releasing Wang Yan was no different than releasing a tiger back into the mountains, thus directly refused, "Not exchanging!"