CHAPTER 516: CHAPTER 510: PACIFICATION

As the words fell, the wooden barrel exploded with a bang, and flames roared to life, instantly igniting the house...

Wang Mi’s pupils constricted as he looked at Liu Cong, "You had prepared tung oil long ago, you intended to burn down Luoyang from the start!"

"That’s right. Originally, Zhao Hanzhang left me a way out, and to avoid her blocking me in the western suburbs, I hesitated about starting this fire. But since you won’t let me live, then no one else should think of living either!"

Wang Mi couldn’t help but curse, "Ignorant little slave, how could you possess the heart of an emperor, dreaming of unifying the world, delusional!"

Along the street, several shops and houses had been doused in oil by Liu Cong, and firewood had been placed in some areas. As soon as the sparks flew, they instantly ignited, with the fires connecting one to another, turning everything in front of them into a sea of flames.

The three factions of soldiers, locked in a stalemate, slowed their movements, mainly because the sight of the fire was too terrifying.

Zhao Hanzhang was furious, positioning her spear between Wang Mi and Liu Cong, saying to Liu Cong, "Leave!"

Then she turned to Wang Mi, "If you don’t want to die, order the soldiers to fight the fire!"

Looking at Liu Cong’s head so close at hand, Wang Mi was very reluctant.

However, Liu Cong was pragmatic, immediately retreating, noticing Zhao Hanzhang indeed allowing them to leave, while Wang Mi merely glared at them. He quickly called Liu Yao to leave.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to Zhao Erlang and ordered, "Lead troops to chase them, drive them out of Luoyang City, and order Beigong Chun to lead troops with you. If he sets fire along the way, spare no expense to take his head!"

These words were shouted out, not only could Zhao Erlang and both armies hear it, but Liu Cong, who had already retreated a hundred steps, also heard it.

Indeed, Liu Cong, who secretly intended to set fires all the way, gritted his teeth and ran with his men.

Zhao Erlang received the order and left.

Zhao Hanzhang put away her spear and said to the still indignant Wang Mi, "General, today you’ve repelled Liu Cong and saved Emperor Jin. This is a major achievement. Why insist on taking Liu Cong’s head at this moment?"

Wang Mi sneered at her, "General Zhao is quite open-minded. Don’t forget, Liu Cong once led a large army that nearly broke Yu State."

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, "Old grudges can be settled in due time. I have always been pragmatic."

She said, "I also ask General Wang to consider the bigger picture and focus on extinguishing the fire first."

Standing in the middle of the road, Wang Mi now also felt the heat. Seeing the fire grow larger, he feared that it might burn down the entire Luoyang and hurriedly ordered people to fight the fire.

But he didn’t go himself; he led a troop towards the palace.

Zhao Hanzhang did not compete with him for this credit. After he had walked some distance, she turned to order, "Have Xun Xiu bring troops to fight the fire and guard against Wang Mi’s army."

She lowered her voice, "Go to the West City, tell Mi Ce to be wary of Wang Mi’s thirty thousand troops. Without my order, do not let them enter the city, and also bring Mr. Ji and Mr. Fu up here."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, Wang Mi, who was preparing to enter the palace on horseback, also whispered instructions to his personal soldiers, "... twenty thousand to guard outside the West City Gate, be on guard against Mi Ce. Another ten thousand to enter the city to respond, just in case."

"Yes."

The personal soldiers quietly left, and Wang Mi reined in his horse in front of the palace gate, waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to approach.

Zhao Hanzhang quickly caught up with her personal soldiers to express sincerity to Wang Mi, she only brought ten personal soldiers and Ting He.

Zhao Hanzhang did not let the soldiers advance but instead spurred her horse forward, shouting towards the palace city, "Your Majesty, I am Zhao Hanzhang of Xiping, Yu State. General Wang Mi of Donglai repelled the Xiongnu Liu Cong, and I’ve come to see Your Majesty."

Having shouted the formal message, before the people above the city gate could discern reality, she shouted loudly, "Uncle Grandfather, Grandfather Fu, it’s me, Third Lady. Wang Mi is grateful for Your Majesty’s grace and wishes to serve Your Majesty as his lord. The Xiongnu army has already retreated, but Luoyang is ablaze, the fire is too fierce, we fear we need to leave the city to escape the fire, please open the palace gate and let us in!"

Befuddled, Zeng Yue and others, who had entered the Imperial City at some point, had changed armor and quietly said to Zhao Zhongyu and Fu Zhi, "It’s the lady, please, both chiefs of staff, open the gates."

Fu Zhi nodded, "Open the gate!"

The Emperor hesitated, "Wang Mi is not a good person, letting him in..."

Zeng Yue immediately said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the lady let us enter the palace first to protect Your Majesty."

Zhao Zhongyu said, "Your Majesty, seeing the fire outside, controlling it might be difficult, and with the wind, it’s likely to spread to the Imperial Palace."

The ministers were also panicking, having already smelled the fire, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes, Your Majesty, putting out the fire is most urgent now."

The Emperor finally agreed to open the palace gate.

While they were discussing, Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan also arrived on horseback.

Wang Mi glanced back, seeing just two weak scholars, he didn’t pay much attention. He focused on Fu Tinghan, then turned his gaze to Zhao Hanzhang, who was riding alongside him, and with a smirk said, "General Zhao, won’t you reconsider my proposal?"

He said, "If General Zhao were to marry me, we could rule the world together in the future."

Zhao Hanzhang, "Hanzhang, being a mere woman, only seeks stability and has no grand ambitions."

She paused, still warning, "Besides, Your Majesty is still present, don’t forget, General Wang, you are now a minister of Jin."

Wang Mi arrogantly sneered.

Liu Yuan was talented, yet he was barely under his control, let alone the ineffectual Emperor Jin?

Previously, because several princes of Jin State and Wang Yan, Gou Xi, and others were there, he had no chance to rise. But now, with most of the Jin State princes dead and only Wang Yan and Gou Xi left, he could completely strive for a higher position.

Zhao Hanzhang left it at that.

Before Wang Mi’s laughter ceased, Fu Tinghan tugged on the reins, and his soldiers immediately made way for him. His horse trotted to Zhao Hanzhang’s side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.

Wang Mi squinted his eyes, looking at him coldly.

Having just ended a battle, his aura was intimidating, but Fu Tinghan was not afraid. Instead, he nodded slightly at him and stood still beside Zhao Hanzhang.

Wang Mi looked at Fu Tinghan meaningfully and said, "Mr. Fu has quite the courage, no wonder General Zhao never leaves his side."

Zhao Hanzhang nudged her horse, adjusting its direction just right to block Wang Mi’s view of Fu Tinghan. She smiled and said, "General Wang praises too much, he just has the world in mind, hence is unafraid."

Upon hearing this, Fu An proudly straightened his chest, and Zhao Family Army’s personal soldiers covertly eyed Wang Mi. Hmph, how could these ordinary folks comprehend the merits and mind of their Mr. Fu?

As both sides were covertly contending, the palace gate slowly opened before them, and an official came out, proclaiming loudly, "Summons for Wang Mi, Zhao Hezhen to attend the imperial audience—"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to Wang Mi, letting him proceed first.

Wang Mi was not polite, tugging on the reins, he went first.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan followed a step behind him, their eyes meeting as they caught up with Wang Mi.

Outside the Imperial City, soldiers were working together to extinguish the fire. The fire seemed large, and fearing it would spread, the emperor chose not to see them in the main hall but met them instead in the Ministry of Industry at the edge of the Imperial City.