Equally shocked as the Emperor were the court ministers and noble clan descendants. Upon learning that Zhao Hanzhang had subdued Wang Mi’s remnant troops, everyone felt complicated emotions. Although Zhao Hanzhang was a woman, at this moment her achievements were truly immense and unrivaled throughout the nation.

Someone sighed, “What a pity she’s already betrothed, and to the grandson of Central Secretary Fu no less. Otherwise, if she were made Empress, His Majesty’s troubles would be resolved.”

“Empress Liang still exists.”

Only then did everyone stop talking, but they all understood that the key to this matter did not lie with Empress Liang, but with Zhao Hanzhang.

As long as she was willing, deposing Empress Liang would suffice, or simply killing her—there were always perfect solutions. But judging from how Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan interacted last night, she probably wasn’t willing.

Still, some people took this to heart, thinking that whether she was willing or not, they would know once they asked. Perhaps Zhao Hanzhang did want to become Empress—after all, she could then wield power over all under heaven.

So some sought ways to meet with Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang was currently outside the imperial city watching Wang Mi’s great army divide in two.

Not all the prisoners were willing to stay. Zhao Hanzhang kept her word—she stripped them of their weapons, money, and armor, then had them escorted to a location twenty li east of the city and released.

Wang Shou was the leader among them. Approximately four hundred-plus men were willing to leave with him, while the others remained.

Those who left mostly held positions and had wives and children elsewhere.

The remaining common soldiers, in these chaotic times, had been conscripted into the army to risk their lives, and even if they had family, they didn’t know where they had ended up.

Moreover, they knew that leaving would still mean licking blood on the battlefield with no certainty of surviving to return home, so they were willing to stay.

Fu Tinghan watched Wang Shou and the others being escorted away, quite puzzled. “Why let them leave?”

“First, I must keep my word. Second, I need to give Shi Le and Liu Yuan something to deal with, though this matter is just a small thing to them.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Wang Zhang is still in Shi Le’s army with a military force under his command.”

“Aren’t you afraid he’ll come seeking revenge against you?”

“Not afraid. Moreover, if he wants revenge, he’ll still need to accumulate strength. Wang Mi left behind vast territories in Bingzhou that he will inherit. However, Shi Le is no gentleman. If he can’t seize Luoyang or conquer Yuzhou, do you think he’ll let the territories of Bingzhou slip by?”

Zhao Hanzhang waited for them to fight like wolves and dogs. She raised her chin, “Shi Le is a wolf. With Wang Zhang’s capabilities, if he wants to outmaneuver him…”

Zhao Hanzhang gave a cold laugh, “Sending Wang Shou back to help him a bit—hopefully he can hold out a while longer.”

Wang Shou’s first thought upon leaving was also about the territories their lord had left behind.

Wang Mi had rebelled against the Han state, but Wang Zhang hadn’t rebelled!

The soldiers and civilians of Bingzhou would still listen to Wang Zhang. And given Liu Yuan’s caution, he very likely wouldn’t condemn Wang Zhang, precisely to maintain stability.

So he had to hurry and find Wang Zhang, return and take control of Bingzhou.

Unfortunately, Wang Shou currently had no horse, and even his clothes had been half-stripped away. At present he could only rely on his two legs to run.

Running and running, he suddenly stopped. Those behind him stopped as well. “General, what is it?”

“Something’s wrong. Where is Shi Le now?”

Everyone looked at each other—they didn’t know.

Wang Shou tried hard to recall. I remember yesterday someone reported to the General that Shi Le had been intercepted on the road by the Qihuo Army, so he should be in…

He turned toward the northwest direction of Luoyang.

He silently gritted his teeth, “Zhao Hanzhang is truly devious, deliberately driving us out the east gate.”

“Then, then should we circle back to the west side of the city?”

Wang Shou thought of the thirty thousand troops on the west side and gritted his teeth, “Circle around!”

But they currently couldn’t enter Luoyang city and couldn’t cut straight through, so they could only go around the outskirts. Unfortunately, Luoyang was surrounded by mountains with natural barriers, so passing through required a very long detour. Relying just on two legs, even running, it would probably take two days.

Two days later, who knew if those thirty thousand troops would still be there. This was also why Wang Shou initially hadn’t considered going to the western suburbs—because very likely he would find it empty.

But at this moment, not only were the thirty thousand troops there, Wang Zhang was very likely also heading to the western or northern suburbs of Luoyang, so he had no choice but to go.

Xun Xiu stepped forward, clasped his fists and bowed, “Commander, all prisoners have been completely reorganized. Would you consider distributing some to my forces?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him, “What, you’ve taken a liking to them?”

Xun Xiu smiled, “Yes, these are Wang Mi’s elite troops who have been through battlefield trials. They can go into battle immediately upon enlistment—their ability is no less than soldiers we’ve carefully trained.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Since you know this, how can you still have the courage to incorporate them into the army?”

“I can distribute them throughout the forces.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Even more foolish.”

Xun Xiu: …

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Have them farm. If they want to enlist, let them farm for a year first.”

“Won’t that waste them?”

“Better wasted than having them turn and kill us in the army. They surrendered, and you’re comfortable using them already?”

Xun Xiu disagreed: “But previously, Commander, didn’t you immediately incorporate prisoners into the army?”

“That’s because the moment I captured them, I immediately had them go onto the battlefield to kill the enemy, their hands stained with the blood of former comrades to earn merit. Even if they wanted to rebel and leave, they had no opportunity. But where am I going to find battles for them to fight next?”

Xun Xiu pointed toward the west of the city, “There are still Wang Mi’s thirty thousand troops outside…”

“Who said I’m going to fight them?” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Since they’re not attacking Luoyang, and killing them won’t gain us territory, why would I use my soldiers’ lives to fight them?”

“Don’t forget, Gou Xi is also outside the city. Fight a battle with those thirty thousand troops, then let Gou Xi reap the benefits? Waging war must have purpose—either for profit or for righteousness. I am already a victorious army. Why would I fight those thirty thousand troops?”

Xun Xiu answered without thinking, “To seize their men…”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him with the gaze one gives an idiot. “Seize them for what, to eat free meals? Am I that wealthy? Moreover, to seize men we’d first have to sacrifice men. How many of my soldiers would have to die to capture those thirty thousand?”

“Using tens of thousands of my loyal soldiers to exchange for thirty thousand prisoners—am I brain-dead?”

Xun Xiu stood dumbfounded, “This, well, then we just let them leave like that?”

Zhao Hanzhang was currently hungry, so her temper was a bit fierce. She couldn’t control the volume of her voice, “If they don’t leave, should they stay and celebrate New Year with you?”

“You like men so much? Later I’ll bring over a batch of people, and you can recruit soldiers—recruit as many as you want, as long as you can afford to feed them!” Was Zhao Hanzhang short of people?

There were still over two hundred thousand people in the Xiangcheng area waiting for her to make arrangements.

Xun Xiu lowered his head and said nothing more.

Fu Tinghan, who had stepped away, walked over smiling and handed her a paper bag that was puffing out fragrant steam.

Zhao Hanzhang’s stomach immediately gurgled, making her even hungrier.

She reached out to take it, her mood instantly improving. “Where did this come from?”

“Made in the palace. You’ve been busy all night, both fighting and putting out fires. You must be starving,” Fu Tinghan turned to explain to Xun Xiu, “General Xun, please be understanding. The Commander’s temper gets a bit fierce when she’s hungry—it’s not directed at you personally.”

Xun Xiu had also figured this out—his luck was just bad, catching her at the wrong time.