CHAPTER 514: CHAPTER 508 GAME

The way to kill is not only to fight openly, but also to use deceit.

How many people’s heads in history were inexplicably chopped off while attending the Hongmen Banquet?

Wang Mi wanted to use this method.

But Liu Cong wasn’t a fool either. Having decided to act against Wang Mi, how could he risk going to his territory?

So, he instead invited Wang Mi over, and Wang Mi, already suspicious of Liu Cong, naturally wouldn’t go.

While they were in this stalemate, Xie Shi, who was opposing them, also noticed something unusual.

He had to personally leave the city to find Zhao Hanzhang. "...Soldiers are being reassigned frequently, and today, after noon, they stopped attacking the Imperial City."

Zhao Hanzhang frowned, "If Liu Cong isn’t attacking, is Wang Mi also not attacking?"

"Yes."

It shouldn’t be so. With Wang Mi’s intelligence, even if he wanted to join them, he would first put on a show to deceive Liu Cong. How could he...

"Noon..." Zhao Hanzhang looked at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan nodded, "It should be shortly after General Beigong’s military report came in."

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes lit up, "It seems this strategy of sowing discord has worked."

Xie Shi, however, felt uneasy, "What will Liu Cong do then?"

He said, "Wang Mi has ten thousand troops in the city, and so do we. If I were Liu Cong..."

"I would definitely leave quietly," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Preserving life is most important."

"But the Imperial Palace is just within reach, just a step away from being breached, I wouldn’t be willing to give up easily," Xie Shi whispered, "Governor, I feel uneasy, both Liu Cong and Liu Yao are Xiongnu people, inherently violent, if they set fire before leaving..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang’s expression changed, and she stood up. "Summon General Beigong and Xun Xiu back, hold the East City Gate, let Mi Ce camp ten li outside the West City Gate, prepare the troops, and enter the city!"

While Liu Cong and Wang Mi were still in a deadlock within the city, Zhao Hanzhang led her army into the South City, directly securing the South City Gate and taking over the South City. Meanwhile, Beigong Chun and Xun Xiu, after receiving the message, also entered the city from the East City Gate and took control of the gate.

By the time Liu Cong and Wang Mi received the news, Mi Ce, who was delayed with the supplies, had also set up camp ten li outside the West City Gate.

Liu Cong: ...

Wang Mi: ...

Unless Wang Mi mobilizes his thirty thousand troops outside the city or can immediately seize the Emperor in the Imperial Palace, they would be trapped in Luoyang City by Zhao Hanzhang.

As soon as Zhao Hanzhang’s troops entered the city, they began to plunder extensively.

Luoyang was now an empty city, with only their three armies aside from the people trapped in the Imperial Palace.

So Zhao Hanzhang directly ordered a major raid, sending the looted farm tools to the populace outside the city for farming, and sending the ironware to the military to be crafted into tools and weapons. The rest of the wealth was consolidated.

While searching, they even found some people. The Zhao Family Army didn’t harm them, instead sending them and their property out of the city, leaving it to them to choose whether to leave or farm in the suburbs—anywhere but staying in the city.

Liu Yao stood on the upper floor every day, watching the Zhao Family Army scour the streets, upset enough to smash a table. "If it weren’t for Wang Mi contending with us, this wealth should have been ours."

Liu Cong was disappointed to see him still caring about wealth at such a time, "The pressing matter is how to leave the city. All three city gates are guarded by her, and if we set fire, none of us can escape."

He thought of setting a fire to burn Emperor Jin, Zhao Hanzhang, and Wang Mi, but it didn’t mean he wanted to die with them.

Liu Cong immediately understood Zhao Hanzhang’s layout; she was forcing him to leave Luoyang, deliberately leaving an opening in the West City.

Wang Mi also saw this, his expression changing, feeling manipulated by implied pressure.

"Is Zhao Hanzhang so sure I will turn against Liu Cong?"

Xie Shi also said, "Governor, if Wang Mi doesn’t turn, our current arrangement will be useless. They have twenty thousand troops inside the city, and on these narrow streets, twenty thousand can withstand our attack. Besides, they have thirty thousand more outside the city, capable of retreating without much harm. Our losses would be significant."

Zhao Hanzhang: "So now we’re betting that Wang Mi will choose between Liu Cong, who is already suspicious of him, or Emperor Jin, who is harmless and powerless in the Imperial Palace."

Xie Shi hesitated, "He might worry about you, Governor."

Zhao Hanzhang clicked her tongue, "Let’s wait for the news."

She had done everything she could, and it was now up to them to make their respective choices.

Wang Mi was indeed concerned about Zhao Hanzhang. He feared that once he controlled Emperor Jin, Zhao Hanzhang would immediately challenge him, benefiting neither him nor the Jin Dynasty.

His confidants, however, were already worn out by the tense situation and urged him, "General, a decision must be made soon. The longer this drags on, the worse it is for us. Although Zhao Hanzhang is a formidable enemy, we still have thirty thousand troops outside."

"That’s right, Zhao Hanzhang initiated this cooperation, and we can take a gamble."

"If no decision is made, once Gou Xi arrives, it will be too late."

Wang Mi just then remembered Gou Xi. With Luoyang besieged, even if Gou Xi came late, he would still come; otherwise, without Emperor Jin, it would be disadvantageous for him too.

Liu Cong was also worried about Gou Xi. Zhao Hanzhang had now left him an escape route, but if Gou Xi arrived, he certainly wouldn’t.

This was what Zhao Hanzhang had told Liu Cong as well.

She stationed Mi Ce ten li outside the western suburb and then wrote to Liu Cong, telling him, "Why fight for this merit with your life, General? I am soft-hearted and for the sake of His Majesty, I am willing to leave a path for you. But once Gou Xi arrives, he might not be so soft-hearted."

Zhao Hanzhang explicitly stated, "General, you should have seen by now, at this point, I’m not afraid to let you know, Wang Mi has already joined the Jin Court. If you leave now, it will benefit us all."

Liu Cong was so angry when he received this letter that he shredded it into pieces, but he had no choice but to heed her suggestion.

He closed his eyes and said, "Have the army withdraw, take everything we’ve accumulated during this time, and leave at dawn."

"Yes."

Meanwhile, after much deliberation, Wang Mi also finally made a decision, "Since grudges are already formed with Liu Cong and Liu Yao, returning to the Han Kingdom is just asking for trouble. Better to take a bet."

"Yes!" The soldiers agreed with him.

The scouts watching Liu Cong reported back, "General, General Liu is maneuvering his troops, the troops opposing the Zhao Family Army are retreating."

Wang Mi squinted his eyes slightly, "Liu Cong wants to leave. How wishful! Fine, I shall surrender to the Jin Court, and besides Emperor Jin, I should present them with a gift, so let’s offer Liu Cong and Liu Yao’s heads."

He sneered, "Perfect for avenging the soldiers who needlessly died earlier. Send word to Yu Hui, have him prepare at the West City Gate, making sure not a single one from Liu Cong’s side escapes."

"Yes!"

Wang Mi also gave a military order to Wang Shou, "Deliver this to the opposing Zhao Family Army, that dealing with Liu Cong should not be solely Wang Mi’s effort, let them share the burden of fire."

"Yes." Wang Shou took the order and left.

Wang Mi immediately ordered, "Prepare the entire army for battle!"

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang was on a building watching the direction of the Imperial City. It was still before dawn, and she had just awoken from a nap, anxiously waiting for dawn to know Liu Cong’s decision.