After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 524 - 518: Retreat

Gou Xi glanced at Wang Mi’s army but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he ordered, "Select ten thousand men to enter the city with me."

"Yes!" Gou Chun looked at Zhao Hanzhang across from him and went to muster the troops.

Zhao Hanzhang was willing to give him time, so she smiled at Gou Xi and then turned her gaze to Zhang Tao directly across.

She clapped her hands, and Zeng Yue brought out a box.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "General Zhang, this is the head of your General Wang, and I am returning it to you."

She said, "From now on, I hope you take care."

Zhang Tao’s face turned red with anger, his spear pointing at Zhao Hanzhang, "Zhao Hanzhang, you unjustly killed our general. This revenge is irreconcilable!"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "I serve as a Jin Minister, and he is a Han traitor. Killing him is justified!"

"Nonsense! You clearly persuaded our general to surrender to Emperor Jin and then betrayed him, disgracing a noble name!"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Since he surrendered to Your Majesty, he is a Jin Minister. As a Jin Minister, he did not respect the Emperor and arrogantly tried to command the Dukes by holding the Emperor hostage. He deserved to be killed by everyone!"

Anyhow, Wang Mi should be killed.

Unless there truly isn’t a plausible excuse, she wouldn’t allow her righteous reputation to be tarnished.

"You!"

Zhao Hanzhang straightforwardly asked Zhang Tao, "Are you going to accept this head or not?"

Zhang Tao immediately tightened his grip on the reins, unsure if Zhao Hanzhang genuinely intended to return the head or was seeking an opportunity to kill him.

But Wang Mi governed the army strictly, so if he didn’t accept, controlling these thirty thousand men would be difficult.

Zhao Hanzhang leisurely said, "General Zhang, Shi Le intercepted Prince East Sea five days ago, where has he been in these five days?"

"From Yu State northward is Bingzhou. He feared I’d ambush him along the way, so he detoured through Bingzhou. But does he know if the southern part of Bingzhou is still alright now?"

Zhang Tao’s face changed dramatically.

Bingzhou is vast, with forces divided into three parts. The southern part is under Wang Mi’s control, the central area in Jinyang is firmly held by Liu Kun, and the area beyond Jinyang and northward is under Liu Yuan’s control.

With Wang Mi dead, not only will Liu Yuan want to grasp the entire Bingzhou, but Shi Le will also be unwilling to let go, right?

Zhang Tao gritted his teeth, dismounted, and walked towards Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang gave a slight smile, gestured forward, and Zeng Yue also stepped forward carrying the box.

The two met midway, Zeng Yue opened the box for him to see the head inside, and after confirming it was Wang Mi, he handed the box to him.

Then he took a few steps back, turned, and left.

Zhang Tao tightly held the box, seeing the Zhao Family Army silently watching him without any intent to shoot, he gradually retreated.

He had only taken two steps when an arrow flew from the side, and he swiftly dodged, the arrow piercing into the ground harshly. His pupils contracted as he immediately looked up at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang’s face changed as well, she immediately raised her hand to give orders. The flag bearer signaled with flags, and the Zhao Family Army archers stepped forward, immediately aiming at Gou Xi’s troops;

Mi Ce’s army did likewise.

Gou Xi’s face darkened, and he shouted loudly, "General Zhao, what is the meaning of this?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied coldly, "Shouldn’t I be asking that General Gou? Mi Ce!"

"Yes!" Mi Ce turned around and shouted to the crowd, "Who shot the arrow? Drag him out for me!"

In no time, someone dragged out a dead soldier. Seeing the black blood at the corner of his mouth, he apparently committed suicide by poisoning.

Zhao Hanzhang sneered, and shouted, "I’ll say it clearly here. Whoever dares to attack Wang Mi’s army today will be my enemy, Zhao Hanzhang. Moreover, whether true or false, I will blame it all on General Gou!"

"You!" Gou Xi was furious enough to be half-dead, "What evidence do you have to make such a conclusion?"

"I have no evidence. I just want to make such a conclusion. Let’s see who dares to shoot stealthy arrows!" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Wang Mi has been executed according to the law. I don’t want to raise arms again, but if someone insists on starting a war, I don’t mind dragging those who cause trouble into it. Anyway, this world is already rotten. I don’t mind making it worse. You all can come!"

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s faintly crazed demeanor, those hiding amongst the armies and ready to stir trouble immediately dared not move.

Gou Xi also suppressed his anger, raised his hand to stop the actions of his army behind him.

Zhang Tao paused in the middle, then slowly retreated, carrying the box back to the army front.

He jumped onto his horse, looked at Zhao Hanzhang from afar, and said, "Zhao Hanzhang, although you saved my life, I will not forget my lord’s vengeance. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely kill you to avenge my lord!"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "You are welcome to try!"

Zhang Tao then pulled his reins and shouted, "We’re leaving!"

Zhang Tao led thirty thousand troops away.

Gou Chun watched in shock and also felt inexplicable anger, "He just left like that? Coward, he has thirty thousand men, yet he didn’t dare shoot a single arrow, claiming to avenge Wang Mi like this?"

Gou Xi couldn’t take it anymore, turned around, and slapped him on the face, his gaze dark, "Were you the one who ordered someone to shoot the arrow?"

Gou Chun’s face hurt and was numb, but he dared not move. He lowered his head and said, "Big brother, I did it for your benefit. Zhao Hanzhang entered the palace first and gained the advantage. She has Bei Gong Chun, a fierce general, by her side. If some of her troops were not consumed outside the city, I fear..."

"Did you manage to consume them?" Gou Xi lowered his voice and shouted, "Initially, Zhang Tao didn’t want to retreat, but your arrow allowed it. You’ve suffered losses at her hands multiple times, yet you haven’t learned caution."

Gou Xi looked at him with disgust and said, "You’ve grown old for nothing. Not only Zhao Hanzhang, but you can’t even compare to the strategists and generals by her side!"

Gou Chun was rebuked, his face red and almost bleeding.

But Gou Xi had always been like this, impartial and unyielding, never sparing words. Until now, his nature had changed a bit, but he still spoke mercilessly.

With Zhang Tao leading the army away, only Zhao Hanzhang’s and Gou Xi’s forces remained in this vast western suburb.

Without impediments, Zhao Hanzhang kept her word, waved a hand and ordered the archers to put away their bows, and made way, inviting Gou Xi to enter the city.

Gou Xi took a deep breath, calmed his anger, and squeezed out a smile towards Zhao Hanzhang in the distance, leading his selected ten thousand soldiers to advance.

Gou Xi led the army before Zhao Hanzhang but didn’t enter the city immediately. Instead, he gestured, "General Zhao, Fu Zhongshu, let’s go together. Oh, and there’s Mr. Fu as well."

Fu Zhi nodded to Zhao Hanzhang and decisively rode to the middle, Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi flanking him on either side.

The city had no civilians, only soldiers, so the roads were wide and unimpeded.

Gou Xi looked around as they proceeded and couldn’t help but admire Zhao Hanzhang, "General Zhao shows great resolve, actually relocating all of Luoyang’s citizens. In this entire world, only General Zhao could accomplish this."

"If it hadn’t been a deserted Luoyang with barely anyone left when I entered, I might have believed your praise, General Gou," she said, "There were hardly any people left, so what difficulty is there in relocating?"

"But it’s General Gou who’s impressive, arriving so timely. Just after I killed Wang Mi and saved Your Majesty, you brought your army here. For those unaware, it might seem you were lurking in shadows waiting for the opportune moment to appear."