CHAPTER 511: CHAPTER 505: THE TOAD WANTS TO EAT SWAN MEAT

The letter was delivered to Wang Mi overnight.

Wang Mi opened the thick letter and was momentarily stunned, unable to understand how Zhao Hanzhang had so much to say to him. Was she not here to scold him?

Over the years, Wang Mi had been scolded many times, all because he was born into an aristocratic family with a clean lineage and prominence. Yet, despite some fame, he eventually rose to prominence due to the matter of being a bandit, so every literati in the world, whenever they caught him, would scold him.

Although he was used to it, every time Wang Mi heard the scolding, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

So he opened the letter but didn’t read it immediately, instead frowning and contemplating for a moment before impatiently unfolding it.

At first glance, Wang Mi was stunned, raising his eyebrows slightly. It was actually a letter to win him over.

Wang Mi lowered his head to read, becoming more and more absorbed. Even though he sensed Zhao Hanzhang’s ill intentions, he couldn’t help but be moved.

Wang Mi pinched the letter in his hand, pondering deeply. His confidant, Wang Shou, seeing his silence, asked anxiously, "General, what does Zhao Hanzhang say in the letter?"

Wang Mi hesitated for a moment, then handed the letter to him to read.

After Wang Shou finished reading, he was stirred up, his eyes shining brightly. "General, Zhao Hanzhang is correct. If you are a Jin minister, then in this world, who but you can be?"

Wang Mi retained a bit of clarity in his heart and shook his head, saying, "Gou Xi’s talent is not beneath mine, we must not underestimate him."

He paused and continued, "And Zhao Hanzhang should not be underestimated either."

Wang Mi sneered, "She belittles herself only to entice me. Hmph, although she was defeated by me once, she was able to control Yu State right under Gou Xi’s nose. Do you really think she relies entirely on the Zhao Family and is incapable herself?"

"But she’s just a woman. Could she possibly dream of entering the court and commanding the dukes?" Wang Shou replied, "General, the Zhao Family is foolishly loyal. This southern attack is actually unrelated to Yu State. The Prince East Sea has a great feud with her, and the current emperor has no grace towards the Zhao Family, yet she still dispatched troops. First, she went to rescue the Prince East Sea, found she couldn’t, then went to save the emperor. Such foolish loyalty is not to be feared."

"She is right in the letter. If you were to be a Jin minister, your only rival would be Gou Xi. And now, Gou Xi’s whereabouts are unknown. As long as we seize the Emperor Jin first, who in the world would not follow your command?" The more Wang Shou spoke, the brighter his eyes became. "The Han Kingdom may also be good, but the emperor is ultimately a Xiongnu. Following him harms your reputation. Moreover, Shi Le now comes on fiercely, having taken the Prince East Sea’s 200,000 troops and civilians. Even the emperor should be wary, let alone you, General."

He added, "Liu Cong and Liu Yao have also made no small contributions. Both are royal family members. Attacking Luoyang with them this time, they will surely be unwilling to let you take credit for storming the Imperial Palace. If things go wrong, not only will there be enmity, your status will plunge to new lows; if successful, it will be deadly enmity, as Liu Cong is the emperor’s own son. How could the emperor not stand by them?"

Wang Mi clenched the letter tightly in his hand, his heart burning like a raging fire, unable to make a decision for the moment.

He knew this was a life-and-death decision. Taking a step forward, he could command the dukes by holding the emperor and restore his reputation.

But if he failed, taking a step back, he would be doomed.

Wang Mi was a hero. Even in his noble status, he dared to abandon his family and take his servants directly with him as a bandit, showing his adventurous spirit. Therefore, after struggling in his heart for a moment, he decided, "Very well, then let’s take a gamble."

Wang Shou’s eyes shone brightly, immediately kneeling down and saying, "I am willing to sacrifice my liver and brain for you, my lord."

Wang Mi slightly curled the corner of his mouth, reached out to help him up, and said, "Good, let’s build a great cause together!"

"However," his eyes slightly narrowed, his voice slightly cold, "besides the emperor, there’s one more person we need to deal with."

Wang Shou thought for a moment and asked, "Zhao Hanzhang?"

Wang Mi nodded, "Even someone like Shi Le, a slave, can become a general commanding ten thousand troops. What is impossible in this world?"

"Zhao Hanzhang, though a woman, comes from nobility. Who knows if she won’t become like Shi Le?" Wang Mi’s gaze was deep. "So, either she is used by me, or she must be killed!"

Wang Shou felt that his lord’s words made sense, so he prepared ink to reply to the letter.

Wang Mi directly informed Zhao Hanzhang that if she wanted him to save the Emperor Jin, she must agree to marry him.

At that time, Zhao Hanzhang was sitting in the big tent, listening to the reports from everyone. When the personal soldier delivered the reply, she casually opened it to read. Then her eyebrows furrowed, and with a slap, she banged it on the table.

The crowd was startled, their speaking halted, and they all looked up at her.

Zhao Hanzhang gritted her teeth, "This is outrageous!"

Seated beside her, Fu Tinghan noticed her reaction, reached out to move her hand aside, and took the letter to read. Just after one glance, his face also darkened.

The people below secretly marveled. Their lord would occasionally get angry, and when that happened, it was terrifying, but Fu Tinghan...

Honestly, working together for almost two years, not only they but even Ji Yuan had never seen Fu Tinghan put on a black face. His temper was gentle, known inside and out.

Ji Yuan leaned forward, somewhat anxious, and asked, "What has happened?"

Fu Tinghan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and handed the letter down to Ji Yuan.

After Ji Yuan read it, his face also darkened, full of anger. He clenched the letter indignantly and said, "This is outrageous!"

Upon hearing this, the others immediately grabbed the letter to read the contents, and suddenly they were all filled with fury.

Even Beigong Chun angrily exclaimed, "Please give the order, General, and I will enter the city immediately and take Wang Mi’s head to present to you!"

Daring to propose marriage to their lord, Wang Mi ought to look in the mirror!

More furious than Beigong Chun were Ji Yuan and the other strategists and officials. Beigong Chun still only regarded Zhao Hanzhang as a general, but in Ji Yuan and others’ hearts, Zhao Hanzhang was their lord.

This lord was independent!

And now Wang Mi actually dared to want to marry their lord, expecting Zhao Hanzhang to rely on him. What does this mean?

It implies that they too must depend on him, becoming second-class subjects. Just thinking about it makes one sick with anger.

Especially as most of the people present looked down on Wang Mi’s character. Thinking about it made them even angrier, and their rage reached its peak.

But these thoughts couldn’t be openly expressed, so many focused on two points, one being, "This bandit Wang Mi dared to insult our lord like this, he must not be spared!"

The other point was, "The lord and Fu Tinghan have long been betrothed, deeply in love. Wang Mi’s actions are meant to provoke, and he must be killed!"

At this moment, they found Fu Tinghan, who was sitting together with Zhao Hanzhang at the top, extremely pleasing to the eye. At least he only benefitted their lord and would not, like ravenous wolves like Wang Mi, lust after the power in their lord’s hands.

Zhao Hanzhang had already calmed down, thoughtful, "That Wang Mi proposed such conditions means he is very..."

"Very tempted," Fu Tinghan interjected, "He was moved by what you said."

Zhao Hanzhang then laughed coldly and asked, "Where is Xun Xiu?"

Someone immediately reported, "A quarter of an hour ago, someone reported that he has already reached the east of the city. He wants to come and meet you, my lord."