The letter was delivered to Wang Mi overnight.

Wang Mi opened this thick letter and was stunned himself, not understanding where Zhao Hanzhang had so much to say to him. Could she be writing to scold him?

Wang Mi had been scolded plenty over the years, all because he came from the scholar-warrior class with a clear and distinguished family background and some literary reputation, yet ultimately made his name as a bandit. So whenever literati across the realm caught him, they would give him a tongue-lashing.

Although he was used to it, Wang Mi still couldn’t help feeling irritated whenever he heard such criticism.

So he opened the letter but didn’t look at it immediately. Instead, he furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment before impatiently unfolding it.

With one glance, Wang Mi froze. He raised an eyebrow slightly—it was actually a letter trying to win him over.

Wang Mi lowered his head to read. The more he read, the more absorbed he became. Even though he could sense Zhao Hanzhang’s ulterior motives, he still couldn’t help being moved.

Wang Mi held the letter and fell into deep thought. His trusted aide Wang Shou saw he wasn’t speaking and couldn’t help feeling anxious. “General, what did Zhao Hanzhang say in the letter?”

Wang Mi hesitated, then still handed him the letter to read.

After Wang Shou finished reading, his heart surged and his eyes shone brightly. “General, Zhao Hanzhang is right. If you become a Jin official, then in this realm, who could it be but you?”

Wang Mi still maintained a shred of clarity in his mind and shook his head. “Gou Xi’s talent and ability are no less than mine. He cannot be underestimated.”

He paused before adding, “Zhao Hanzhang also cannot be taken lightly.”

Wang Mi sneered, “She belittles herself only to lure me in. Hmph, she defeated me once and can control Yuzhou right under Gou Xi’s nose. Do you really think she relies entirely on the Zhao clan and has no ability herself?”

“But she’s merely a woman. Does she really fantasize about entering the court and commanding the nobles with the Emperor in hand?” Wang Shou said, “General, the Zhao clan is blindly loyal. This southern campaign actually had nothing to do with Yuzhou. Prince Donghai also had great enmity with her, yet she still sent troops—first to rescue Prince Donghai, and when that failed, she came to rescue the Emperor. Such a blindly loyal person is not to be feared.”

“What she says in the letter is correct. If the General becomes a Jin official, your only opponent is Gou Xi. And right now Gou Xi is still somewhere unknown. As long as we seize the opportunity to capture the Jin Emperor first, then none under heaven will disobey your commands.” Wang Shou’s eyes grew brighter as he spoke. “The Han state is also good, but after all, their emperor is Xiongnu. Following him damages the General’s reputation. Now that Shi Le comes with such momentum, having taken Prince Donghai’s two hundred thousand troops and people, his power may be such that even the Emperor must be wary of him, let alone you, General.”

He continued, “Liu Cong and Liu Yao have also achieved considerable merit, and both are imperial clansmen. Competing for the achievement of breaching the palace with them, if they’re unwilling to give you the credit for attacking the palace, it won’t work. Then everyone will not only become enemies but the General’s position will fall again and again. If it succeeds, it’s even worse—becoming mortal enemies. Liu Cong is the Emperor’s own son. How could the Emperor not side with them?”

Wang Mi gripped the letter tightly, his heart burning like a raging fire. For a moment he couldn’t decide.

He knew this was a life-or-death choice. One step forward—he could not only command the nobles with the Emperor in hand but also wash away his previous infamy.

But if it failed and he retreated one step, he would be doomed beyond redemption.

Wang Mi was a ambitious leader. Even when he had a distinguished status, he dared to abandon his family and lead his servants directly into banditry, showing his adventurous spirit. So after struggling internally for a bit, he decided, “Good, then we’ll take this gamble.”

Wang Shou’s eyes lit up brightly as he immediately knelt down. “This subordinate is willing to give his life for my lord.”

Wang Mi’s lips curved slightly upward as he reached out to help him up. “Good, together we’ll create great achievements!”

“However,” his eyes narrowed and his voice turned cold, “besides the Emperor, there’s one other person we must deal with.”

Wang Shou thought briefly before asking, “Zhao Hanzhang?”

Wang Mi nodded. “Even someone like Shi Le, a former slave, can become a general commanding tens of thousands of troops. What’s impossible in this world?”

“Though Zhao Hanzhang is a woman, she comes from a distinguished background. How do we know she won’t be like that Shi Le?” Wang Mi’s gaze was dark. “So either she serves me, or we kill her!”

Wang Shou thought what his lord said made sense and so ground ink for him to write a reply.

Wang Mi directly told Zhao Hanzhang that if she wanted him to rescue the Jin Emperor, fine—but Zhao Hanzhang must marry him.

At that moment, Zhao Hanzhang was sitting in the main tent listening to everyone’s reports. A personal guard delivered the reply. She casually opened it to read, then her expression turned severe as she slapped it down on the table with a sharp crack.

Everyone jumped in surprise, their voices pausing as they all looked up at her.

Zhao Hanzhang ground her teeth. “How dare he go too far!”

Sitting beside her, Fu Tinghan saw this and reached out to move her hand aside, pulling out the letter to read. With just one glance, his face also darkened.

Those below saw this and quietly marveled. Their Commander occasionally lost her temper, and when she did, it was quite frightening. But Fu Tinghan…

Honestly, having worked together for nearly two years now, not just them but even Ji Yuan had never seen Fu Tinghan show a dark expression. His temperament was gentle, known to all inside and outside.

Ji Yuan leaned forward, somewhat anxiously asking, “What happened?”

Fu Tinghan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and passed the letter down to Ji Yuan.

After reading it, Ji Yuan’s face also darkened, and he angrily said, “How dare he go too far!”

The others heard this and immediately snatched the letter to read. Instantly they all became furiously indignant.

Even Beigong Chun angrily said, “Please give the order, General, and I’ll immediately enter the city to cut off Wang Mi’s head and present it!”

How dare he ask their lord to marry him! Wang Mi should look in a mirror first!

Even more furious than Beigong Chun were the strategists and officials like Ji Yuan. Beigong Chun still only saw Zhao Hanzhang as a general, but in Ji Yuan and the others’ hearts, Zhao Hanzhang was their lord.

And this lord was independent!

Yet now Wang Mi actually fantasized about marrying their lord and having Zhao Hanzhang depend on him. What did that mean?

It meant they too would have to depend on him, becoming second-class subjects. Just thinking about it made them want to vomit.

Especially since many people present looked down on Wang Mi’s character. Thinking of this made them even more furious, their anger rising to maximum levels.

But these thoughts couldn’t be stated openly, so many people seized on two points. One was, “How dare this bandit Wang Mi insult our lord like this! We absolutely cannot let him go!”

The other point was, “The Commander and the Young Master have long been engaged. The two are deeply devoted to each other. Wang Mi’s action is meant to sow discord. He must be killed!”

At this moment, they found Fu Tinghan, sitting at the head beside Zhao Hanzhang, extremely pleasing to the eye. At least he only benefited their lord and wouldn’t be like Wang Mi, this wolf with wild ambitions who only coveted the power in their lord’s hands.

However, Zhao Hanzhang had already calmed down. She looked thoughtful. “Wang Mi proposing this condition shows that he’s very moved by my proposal…”

“Very moved,” Fu Tinghan continued. “You’ve persuaded him.”

Zhao Hanzhang then sneered and asked, “Where has Xun Xiu gotten to?”

Someone immediately reported, “A quarter hour ago, someone came to report that he’s reached the east of the city. He wants to come see the Commander in person.”