After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 575 - 569: The General Does Not Fear Death
Zhao Hanzhang was working in the front hall. When Huang An arrived, Zhao Yi happened to be there, so Huang An waited by the side.
Zhao Hanzhang saw Huang An had arrived, nodded at Zhao Yi, and said, "The escort is ready. Once you’ve packed your things, you can set out, and they will escort you all the way back to Xiping."
Zhao Yi accepted, glanced at his cousin seated above, made a bow, and withdrew.
After Zhao Yi withdrew, Zhao Hanzhang smiled at Huang An and the Assistant General behind him, and gestured to the seat on the left for them to sit down.
Huang An, seeing her friendly smile, let out a slight breath of relief and, together with the Assistant General, seated himself after saluting.
"How is General Beigong’s injury?"
Huang An indicated that it was no longer a problem, as he could already move freely and was able to practice horseback archery.
Zhao Hanzhang then pondered, "Since General Beigong can move freely now, I have a task I want to entrust to General Huang."
Huang An’s back stiffened, and he discreetly glanced at the Assistant General. Could it be that Zhao Hanzhang didn’t like how united the Xiliang army was and wanted to transfer him away from the General?
Many people had done this before, but neither he nor the General had agreed, so the Xiliang army always remained a whole.
Huang An was already considering in his mind how to refuse Zhao Hanzhang when he heard Zhao Hanzhang say, "I want General Beigong to return to Xiliang and bring the Xiliang army’s families to Luoyang."
"My lord, I have been in the Xiliang army since I was sixteen. I really don’t want to... What did you say?" His brain finally processed what he heard.
The Assistant General, who had been nodding repeatedly, suddenly paused, also looking at Zhao Hanzhang in surprise.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at the two and said, "Fu Zhongshu is now in Chang’an, and I asked him to obtain a document for passing the borders. I want you to go back and bring the families of the soldiers to Luoyang."
Huang An couldn’t help looking at the Assistant General. After exchanging glances, they both became serious, "Is what my lord said true?"
"Naturally," Zhao Hanzhang said, "I also know that General Beigong and you have always wanted to return to Xiliang, but Xiliang is not lacking in brave generals. The people of the Great Jin and the Central Plains need you now, so I hope you can stay in Luoyang."
"You Xiliang army have fought against the Xianbei for many years. They fear the Xiliang army, and they fear General Beigong. I am not at ease leaving Luoyang to anyone else; only the Xiliang army can guard it."
Huang An couldn’t help but tear up. They had been out for three years, always fighting from place to place, but it was only here with Zhao Hanzhang that they were truly entrusted with a significant responsibility.
He thought the current situation was the peak, but he never expected Zhao Hanzhang would want to entrust Luoyang to their Xiliang army.
Returning to Xiliang would be just about the same.
This was the greatest recognition they had felt since leaving Xiliang!
Huang An immediately stood up and knelt on one knee, saying forcefully, "My lord, I am willing to stay and guard Luoyang."
The Assistant General quickly knelt down as well, "I am willing too!"
With tears in his eyes, Huang An said, "The General is not afraid to die. As long as our lord trusts us, we are willing to devote ourselves entirely to you!"
Zhao Hanzhang quickly got up, went down to help them up, her eyes shining, "Good! You don’t let me, Zhao Hanzhang, down; I will not let the Xiliang army down!"
At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang and the Xiliang army truly became of one mind.
Huang An left with red eyes and hurriedly ran back to the camp with the Assistant General to see Beigong Chun.
Beigong Chun was standing and watching soldiers practice killing when he saw Huang An approaching with the Assistant General in high spirits. He turned to walk away.
He’s definitely going to speak ill of Zhao Hanzhang again, Beigong Chun thought.
He found a relatively quiet place to wait, ensuring that the soldiers wouldn’t hear their conversation.
Huang An hurriedly caught up and called out with some grievance, "General, why are you running? I have something to discuss with you."
Beigong Chun stood leisurely and nodded, "Go ahead."
"I’ve decided to stay in the Central Plains and follow our lord."
Beigong Chun frowned, "Our lord? What lord, isn’t our lord in Xiliang?"
Huang An: "I’ve changed my lord. I want to serve Lord Zhao."
Beigong Chun: ...
He looked at Huang An in shock, with a slight frown, "Nonsense, you’re not going back to Xiliang?"
"Yes, I’m going back tomorrow."
Beigong Chun: ...
The Assistant General next to them was anxious and couldn’t help pushing the Deputy General aside to report himself, "General, Lord Zhao summoned the Deputy General to have him go back to Xiliang and bring our families to Luoyang. She said she wants to entrust Luoyang to our Xiliang army to guard!"
Huang An added, "It’s not just garrisoning and stationing troops; we can also recruit in Luoyang and are allotted land for military farming. The grain and fodder will partially come from Luoyang taxes. General, we no longer have to beg for every bowl of food."
Beigong Chun: "Going back to fetch the families? Does this mean we can cross the border now?"
Huang An: "Fu Zhongshu got us a pass for crossing the border."
Seeing Beigong Chun silent, Huang An knew he wanted to take people back to Xiliang, and the heat in his heart cooled. Recalling what Zhao Hanzhang had just said, Huang An bit his lip and still said, "General, Lord Zhao said that if you and the Xiliang army really don’t want to stay in Luoyang, you can take the soldiers back."
Beigong Chun was torn, asking, "How long will the Zhao Family Army stay in Luoyang?"
"Lord Zhao didn’t say, but I don’t think it will be long. Perhaps she’ll return to Yu State once Luoyang stabilizes. After all, she’s the Yu State Governor, so the most important thing is Yu State."
"If we leave, and the Zhao Family Army also leaves, Luoyang will only have Guy City and Xin’an as its gateways, and it might not be defensible."
Huang An nodded repeatedly, "I think so too. General, we were sent to Luoyang by the State Governor to protect it, and besides, Zhao Envoy has been gracious to us; it’s not good to abandon it now."
Beigong Chun remained silent.
Huang An and the Assistant General both knew their General was someone who valued loyalty and righteousness, and after hearing Zhao Hanzhang’s words, he wouldn’t leave. So after a pause, Huang An cautiously asked, "General, should we go back to fetch the people?"
This defense, who knows how many years it would last, if it were only three to five years, fine, but if ten years passed, would the soldiers really leave their homes and wives for more than a decade without returning?
Beigong Chun had always wanted to take the soldiers back to Xiliang, partly because it was hard to leave their homeland, and secondly because their families were in Xiliang.
He sighed and asked, "For such a big matter, why did my lord only consult with you and not me?"
Huang An replied, "Lord Zhao said she selfishly didn’t want to let you go, so she didn’t even want to bring it up and only discussed it with me. But if you really want to leave, you don’t need to say goodbye to her, just take the Xiliang army and leave tomorrow, she’ll watch you leave from Mount Mang."
Zhao Hanzhang had said this much, making it even tougher for Beigong Chun to leave.
After a moment of silence, he said, "Alright, you go back to bring the people."
Huang An was delighted to hear this and, together with the Assistant General, eagerly informed the entire army of the matter.
The Xiliang army, who had followed Beigong Chun from Xiliang to Luoyang, eagerly howled with excitement when they heard this news. Those willing to let their families move to Luoyang quickly reported to their centurions and sent messages back, persuading their families to come.
Of course, whether they would come in the end still depended on whether their families were willing to do so.
Regardless of willingness, there was hope now. The most crucial thing was they could send messages back and might receive letters from their families in the future.
