Besides open combat, there were of course other ways to kill people.
How many heads in history had been inexplicably severed while attending a Hongmen Feast?
Wang Mi wanted to use this method.
But Liu Cong was no fool. Having already decided to move against Wang Mi, how could he risk going to his territory?
So he instead invited Wang Mi over. Wang Mi, already suspicious of Liu Cong, naturally wouldn’t go either.
While they were in this stalemate, Xie Shi, who was facing them, also noticed something unusual.
He had no choice but to personally leave the city to find Zhao Hanzhang. “…Troop movements have been frequent, and moreover, since noon today, they haven’t attacked the imperial palace.”
Zhao Hanzhang frowned. “Liu Cong isn’t attacking, and Wang Mi isn’t attacking either?”
“Yes.”
Logically it shouldn’t be this way. Even if Wang Mi wanted to join them with his intelligence, he should first put on a show to deceive Liu Cong. How could he…
“Noon…” Zhao Hanzhang looked at Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan nodded. “It should have been shortly after General Beigong’s military report came in.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes brightened. “It seems this stratagem of sowing discord has worked.”
But Xie Shi felt uneasy. “What will Liu Cong do then?”
He said, “Wang Mi has ten thousand troops in the city, and we also have ten thousand troops inside. If I were Liu Cong…”
“I would definitely leave quietly,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Preserving my life is most important.”
“But the imperial palace is so close, just one step away from being breached. I definitely wouldn’t want to give up just like that,” Xie Shi said in a low voice. “Your Excellency, I’m uneasy. Liu Cong and Liu Yao are both Xiongnu, naturally brutal. If before leaving they set a fire…”
Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang’s expression changed and she stood up. “Summon Beigong Chun and Xun Xiu back. Guard the eastern city gate. Have Mi Ce station himself ten li outside the western gate, deploying troops in preparation. Break camp—we’re entering the city!”
While Liu Cong and Wang Mi were still at a stalemate in the city, Zhao Hanzhang led her army into the southern city, directly securing the south gate and occupying the southern district. At the same time, having received the news, Beigong Chun and Xun Xiu also entered through the eastern gate and occupied it.
By the time Liu Cong and Wang Mi received the news, Mi Ce, who had been following behind with supplies, had also stationed himself ten li outside the western gate.
Liu Cong: …
Wang Mi: …
At this point, unless Wang Mi deployed his thirty thousand men outside the city or could immediately break into the palace and capture the emperor, they would be trapped to death in Luoyang by Zhao Hanzhang.
As soon as Zhao Hanzhang’s forces entered the city, they began searching extensively.
Luoyang was now an empty city. Apart from those trapped in the palace, there were only their three armies.
So Zhao Hanzhang directly ordered a thorough search, sending farming tools found to the common people outside the city for cultivation, iron implements to the army to be forged into farming tools and weapons, with the remaining wealth collected together.
As they searched, they even found some people. The Zhao family army didn’t harm anyone, simply sending them out of the city along with their household goods. Whether they left or went to farm in the suburbs was their choice, but they couldn’t remain in the city.
Liu Yao stood in a building every day watching the Zhao family army move through the streets and alleys searching, so angry he smashed his table. “If not for Wang Mi contending with us, these riches should have been ours.”
Liu Cong, seeing him still thinking about money at this time, was disappointed. “The urgent matter is figuring out how to leave the city. All three gates are guarded by her. If we set fire, no one can escape.”
He wanted to burn Emperor Jin and both Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Mi to death, but that didn’t mean he was willing to die with them.
Looking at this arrangement, Liu Cong immediately understood—Zhao Hanzhang was forcing him to leave Luoyang, deliberately leaving him an opening in the west.
Wang Mi saw it too. His expression changed several times, feeling as if he was being forced into calculations.
“Is Zhao Hanzhang so certain I’ll turn against Liu Cong?”
Xie Shi also said, “Your Excellency, if Wang Mi doesn’t turn, all our arrangements will be useless. They have twenty thousand men in the city, and the streets are narrow. Twenty thousand men can withstand our attacks. With thirty thousand more outside the city available, they can completely retreat safely. We’ll suffer heavy losses.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “So now we’re gambling—gambling whether Wang Mi will choose Liu Cong, who already suspects him, or choose the harmless and powerless Emperor Jin in the palace.”
Xie Shi hesitated. “I’m afraid he’ll worry about you, Your Excellency.”
Zhao Hanzhang clicked her tongue. “Let’s wait quietly for news.”
She had done everything she could. What came next depended on their individual choices.
Wang Mi was indeed concerned about Zhao Hanzhang. He worried that the moment he controlled Emperor Jin, Zhao Hanzhang would challenge him, and wouldn’t that benefit her and the Jin court?
But his confidants had already been worn down by this tense situation and couldn’t help urging, “General, you must decide soon. The longer this drags on, the worse it is for us. Though Zhao Hanzhang is a great enemy, we still have thirty thousand troops outside.”
“Exactly. This cooperation was initiated by Zhao Hanzhang. We can take the gamble.”
“If you don’t decide soon, once Gou Xi arrives, it will be too late.”
Only then did Wang Mi remember Gou Xi. With Luoyang under siege, even if he was late, he would definitely come. Otherwise, if Emperor Jin was lost, it would be bad for him too.
Liu Cong was also worried about Gou Xi. Now Zhao Hanzhang had left him an escape route, but if Gou Xi came, he wouldn’t.
Zhao Hanzhang told Liu Cong the same thing.
She had Mi Ce station ten li outside the western suburbs, then turned around and wrote to Liu Cong, telling him, “Why must the General risk his life for this achievement? I’m soft-hearted and can open an escape route for the General for His Majesty’s sake, but once Gou Xi arrives, he may not have such a soft heart.”
Zhao Hanzhang stated plainly, “The General should also see that at this point, I’m not afraid to let the General know—Wang Mi has already surrendered to the Jin court. If you leave now, it’s good for you, good for me, good for everyone.”
Receiving this letter, Liu Cong was so angry he crumpled it up, but he had no choice but to follow her suggestion.
He closed his eyes. “Have the army withdraw, take everything we’ve gathered during this time, and leave immediately after dawn.”
“Yes.”
The hesitant Wang Mi also finally made up his mind. “Having already made enemies with Liu Cong and Liu Yao, returning to Han state would only mean suffering. Better to take a gamble.”
“Yes!” All the officers and soldiers responded together.
Men watching Liu Cong ran back to report, “General, General Liu is moving troops. The forces facing the Zhao family army are withdrawing.”
Wang Mi’s eyes narrowed. “Liu Cong wants to leave. He thinks quite well of himself. Just as well—I’m surrendering to the Jin court. Besides Emperor Jin, I should give them a gift. Let’s take Liu Cong and Liu Yao’s heads as offerings.”
He sneered. “Perfect—revenge for those soldiers who died in battle for no reason. Send orders to Yu Hui to also prepare at the western gate. Don’t let a single one of Liu Cong’s men escape.”
“Yes!”
Wang Mi also gave Wang Shou a military order. “Deliver this to the Zhao family army across from us. If we’re moving against Liu Cong, Wang Mi can’t be the only one putting in effort. Let them share the burden.”
“Yes.” Wang Shou departed with the order.
Wang Mi immediately commanded, “All troops prepare for battle!”
At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang was in a building gazing toward the imperial palace. Dawn had not yet broken. She had just woken from a brief nap and was now anxiously waiting for daybreak. Once it was light, they would know Liu Cong’s choice.