Beigong Chun lived in a small alley, in a two-courtyard residence with a gate that could only fit one carriage.

Moreover, he didn’t live alone. The brothers he’d brought out lived with him—over ten bachelors residing inside, without even servants. Their personal guards cared for them.

Upon arriving at the gate, Wu Erlang looked left and right, then immediately sighed: “General Beigong has been wronged.”

The guards who’d come with Wu Erlang nodded repeatedly.

Unlike Wu Erlang, the guards protecting the merchant convoy were selected from the army. These people had been on the battlefield with Zhao Hanzhang and had also seen Beigong Chun.

Such a formidable person—their young lady treated him with complete courtesy and respect every time they met. Yet he’d been assigned to live here.

As a general who’d galloped across battlefields, his gate couldn’t even fit two horses side by side. This was truly excessive!

Wu Erlang personally stepped forward to knock on the door.

Before long, the door opened. A one-eyed man opened it. His face also bore a scar, and his remaining eye sharply fixed on Wu Erlang: “Who are you, who are you looking for?”

Wu Erlang quickly bowed: “I am Wu Erlang from Runan Commandery. Passing through Chang’an, I heard General Beigong was here and came specially to pay respects.”

He took out a calling card and extended it over his head: “My master and General Beigong are old acquaintances. Please announce me.”

The one-eyed gatekeeper glanced at the card, his expression softening. He reached out to accept it, then with a snap, closed the door.

Wu Erlang didn’t mind. He used to walk down the street and even dogs would dislike him. Now was already very good. Moreover, remembering the young lady’s instructions, he perked up his spirits with renewed fighting spirit.

The young lady had said that no matter what, he must find a way to keep Beigong Chun. If he could invite him to Yuzhou, naturally that was best. If not, he should help him return to Xiliang. Under no circumstances could he let the Prince of Nanyang benefit.

Originally, Zhao Hanzhang had wanted to say he absolutely couldn’t let the Later Han benefit, because historically, Beigong Chun had surrendered to Liu Cong.

However, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t feel this was Beigong Chun’s fault.

Beigong Chun and Liu Cong had a great enmity. Liu Cong’s two attacks on Chang’an were both repelled by him. The Xiongnu people were extremely afraid of this general. He’d always wanted to return to Liangzhou but was constantly obstructed.

Yet he didn’t become self-destructive. Leading a group of brothers, unable to return home, he settled where he was, wholeheartedly serving the Jin Kingdom. If someone hadn’t mistreated him, if he couldn’t even protect his own subordinate brothers, he wouldn’t have violated his inner principles to surrender to Liu Cong.

Even after surrendering, this general had been passively uncooperative. Though Liu Cong bestowed high position upon him, he never campaigned for the Later Han. Finally, when internal chaos erupted in the Later Han, he’d even fantasized about restoring order, but the result…

Sigh. But these secrets could only be told to Fu Tinghan, not to Wu Erlang. So she changed direction mid-sentence, directly substituting the Prince of Nanyang.

To Wu Erlang’s ears, it became their young lady wanting to compete with the Prince of Nanyang for people. She’d rather help General Beigong return to Xiliang than let the Prince of Nanyang benefit.

Wu Erlang placed the Prince of Nanyang in opposition. Beigong Chun became someone they needed to win over on the surface, so he adopted a very humble posture.

The calling card was Zhao Hanzhang’s.

Beigong Chun hadn’t expected to see Zhao Hanzhang’s calling card in Chang’an. Extremely surprised, after brief consideration he had someone invite the visitor in.

As soon as Wu Erlang entered the main hall, he immediately lifted his robe and knelt: “This subordinate greets the General.”

Beigong Chun quickly helped him up, frowning slightly: “You are General Zhao’s…”

“This lowly one is the young lady’s household slave, ordered to conduct trade abroad to earn some money and provisions for the army,” Wu Erlang said humbly. “Upon reaching Chang’an, I heard the General was here. Everyone in Yuzhou is grateful for the General’s life-saving grace, and our young lady also greatly admires the General. Thus, this lowly one dares to disturb you.”

He turned, and the guards immediately brought forward two chests.

Wu Erlang bowed: “These are local products this lowly one brought from Runan—nothing valuable, but they represent Yuzhou’s heartfelt sentiment. Please do not disdain them, General.”

Hearing this, Beigong Chun didn’t open them but accepted, having someone carry them away. He asked carefully: “I later heard the Prince of Donghai sent troops south. I wonder how Yuzhou fares, how is General Zhao?”

Though trapped in Chang’an, his information wasn’t well-connected. The Prince of Nanyang did retain him, but only to have him train and lead troops. So he couldn’t receive much news.

Wu Erlang, hearing this, became even more respectful and explained in detail about the Prince of Donghai’s southern campaign.

Learning that Fu Tinghan had been injured in battle, Beigong Chun showed concern: “Is Lord Fu alright?”

Such a formidable person—if he fell on the battlefield, it would be too regrettable.

Wu Erlang quickly said: “Dalang is already recovered. Now our young lady is the Yuzhou Regional Inspector. Yuzhou’s troubles have been pacified, and the common people have all settled down.”

Hearing this, Beigong Chun sighed deeply: “Given General Zhao’s character and capabilities, the people settling down is only a matter of time. It’s just unfortunate other places won’t necessarily be the same.”

Wu Erlang, hearing this, immediately picked up the thread: “When this lowly one entered the city, I saw many displaced people outside. They’d randomly erected wooden shelters to live in, and there were even soldiers going out to drive them away. That was…”

Beigong Chun said bleakly: “Chang’an is experiencing famine, already reaching the point of people eating each other. Outside the city are all displaced people with nowhere to go.”

Wu Erlang, hearing this and recalling his own past experiences, felt a dull ache in his heart. He quickly asked: “Doesn’t the government provide disaster relief?”

“A clever woman cannot cook without rice. The Prince of Nanyang has already sold bronze sacrificial vessels to raise grain, but how many people can that little bit of grain feed?” Beigong Chun’s face showed bitterness. The two thousand troops he’d brought were also going hungry now, only able to eat one meal a day. No matter how he applied for provisions, it was useless.

He felt if this continued, even this one meal might be cut off. What would they do then?

Wu Erlang had no solutions either. Their young lady was formidable, but he wasn’t—he could only sell goods, make money, and transport it back to Yuzhou for the young lady. He understood nothing else.

After commiserating for a while, Wu Erlang hurriedly probed: “Our young lady greatly misses the General. If the General is willing to come to Yuzhou, our young lady would be overjoyed.”

Beigong Chun declined. Chang’an wasn’t far from Xiliang. He still hoped the Prince of Nanyang would relent and release him from the pass. Then he could lead his soldiers home.

Thinking of his relatives back home, Beigong Chun’s cold, gray heart was infused with vitality again. He rallied his spirits and declined Wu Erlang’s proposal.

Wu Erlang felt regret and could only leave first, deciding to try persuading him again when there was another opportunity. If he really couldn’t be persuaded, he’d find a way to help him leave the pass and return to Xiliang.

After seeing off Wu Erlang, Beigong Chun’s subordinates emerged from various corners: “General, I didn’t expect General Zhao to still remember you and even specially brought you local products.”

Beigong Chun naturally felt Zhao Hanzhang’s sincerity and the other party’s urgent desire to have him. He said: “We’re going to return to Xiliang. We’re not suitable for Yuzhou.”

As he spoke, he casually opened the chest. The contents inside shone with brilliant light, directly blinding Beigong Chun. He froze, momentarily speechless.