Unlike Zhao Hanzhang, she worried that having too many Hu people in her forces might lead to a mutiny. Beigong Chun, however, wasn’t concerned. In his view, those who would surrender—whether generals or soldiers—could all be used.

He told Zhao Hanzhang, “I’m not afraid of having many Hu people. In Xiliang, we often fight with the Xianbei. When we lose, some of our soldiers surrender to the Xianbei. When we win, Xianbei soldiers also surrender. We can’t just kill all those who surrender, so we use whoever comes over.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Doesn’t General Beigong worry there might be spies among them?”

Beigong Chun said unconcernedly, “That depends on how you use them. In my view, the effort required to determine their loyalty far exceeds the effort of figuring out how to employ them, and the cost is much higher too.”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. She, who came from a modern era of great ethnic unity, couldn’t match Beigong Chun’s breadth of mind.

She became thoughtful. When she came out again to see Cheng Da and the other Jie Hu, she had made up her mind—she wouldn’t let them leave after all.

Zhao Hanzhang asked Team Leader Song, “Was everything smooth along the way?”

Their group included many injured civilians, plus they had to bring so many prisoners. Team Leader Song had been on edge the entire journey, but hearing Zhao Hanzhang’s question, he still nodded. “Smooth.”

Zhao Hanzhang curved her lips slightly and had him go rest, then called over Cheng Da, Wei You, and several other Jie Hu squad leaders and section chiefs to talk.

“Have you asked the other Jie Hu soldiers about their wishes? Do they want to stay or leave?”

Cheng Da asked tentatively, “Will General Zhao truly let us leave?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “However, to prevent them from becoming bandits plundering our Central Plains people, or from returning to the Xiongnu Han State to join the army, we’ll need to wait a while before releasing them.”

This was standard procedure, but…

Cheng Da asked, “What about their food and supplies?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “According to convention, I recall Guan City has mines.”

She said regretfully, “Unfortunately, the city is short on provisions now. I don’t know if the mines are still operating. I’ll ask General Beigong about it later.”

If they weren’t mining, would these prisoners be disposed of? Or even made into rations?

Cheng Da and the others’ hearts pounded. They didn’t have much faith in the character of those in power.

So after Zhao Hanzhang left, they immediately went back to find their comrades and said, “We’ve decided to follow Zhao Hanzhang. Do you want to stay too?”

“Squad Leader, we’re not going home?”

“Who knows if our families are dead or alive? If we leave, we’ll either be pressed back into service and fight Jin people again, or we’ll starve to death on the road.” Cheng Da lowered his voice. “I asked around—Guan City has been under siege for over twenty days. There’s not much food in the city. The Xiongnu are still all around outside. If they can’t break through, they won’t let us go. By then, our staying alive would just waste food.”

“Didn’t General Zhao say she would let us leave?”

Cheng Da slapped him. “Can you trust what those in power say? When our Emperor recruited us, he said we’d share hardships and fortunes together. Now that he’s Emperor, aren’t we still slaves driven by the Xiongnu?”

Everyone felt Cheng Da was right. After thinking briefly, they all agreed to pledge themselves directly to Zhao Hanzhang—at least it would preserve their lives for now.

After all, being a slave to anyone was the same, wasn’t it?

Fighting on behalf of anyone was still fighting, wasn’t it?

Staying alive was most important for now.

So the group went to find Zhao Hanzhang, all with expressions of loyalty as if completely won over by her, saying that since she had treated them so well, they were willing to stay and follow Zhao Hanzhang, to die wrapped in horse hide for her.

Fu Tinghan, who had just witnessed how Zhao Hanzhang threatened Cheng Da and Wei You: …

Zhao Hanzhang accepted them with a moved expression, immediately having Qiu Wu arrange everything for them—provide the armor they should receive, give them the weapons they should have, and conduct the background checks that should be done.

Especially the family background investigation—because it was so detailed, Zhao Hanzhang had Fu Tinghan help with it.

Fu Tinghan had no objections. Information gathering had always been his job. However… “Now you’re not worried about them rebelling within your army?”

Zhao Hanzhang said with full confidence, “Beigong Chun is right. I realize my courage was too small. They’re all very important forces. Why only use a small part when I could gather all the strength within my reach?”

Fu Tinghan asked, “Not worried about the tail becoming too big to control?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “The Jie Hu have always been subordinate to the Xiongnu. I was too cautious before. I think if I treat them sincerely, they’ll respond with sincerity too.”

Fu Tinghan nodded, thinking what she said made sense, then asked, “How do you plan to show sincerity?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s method of showing sincerity was equal treatment—giving them the same treatment as the Jin army, training together, maintaining weapons together, and later going to battle together.

Of course, before that, she went section by section to talk with them, explaining the current treatment of her Zhao Family Army, which was different from what the court gave soldiers.

Although there was no unified court treatment at present anyway.

After Zhao Hanzhang left, the group of Jie Hu gathered together. “Military registration can also get land?”

“She said land would be allocated. It should be true, right?”

“But isn’t that for farming for her? Though from what she said, it sounds like those lands would belong to our families, and we wouldn’t even have to pay taxes.”

“That’s false, right? Military registration is lowly. I’ve never heard of military households not having to pay taxes.”

“Who cares if it’s true or false? We’re not leaving anyway. As long as we don’t starve to death, that’s enough.”

“True. Right now we’re out here, and whether we can even make it to Xiping alive with her is uncertain.”

The words were said this way, but everyone’s hearts held a thread of hope, and they developed a tiny sense of belonging to the Zhao Family Army.

Beigong Chun watched as these prisoners’ spirit and energy completely changed in just one night. He couldn’t help but tell Huang An, “Though she’s a woman, she’s truly an excellent general for leading troops. Yuzhou in her hands would be stronger than in Inspector He’s.”

Thinking of something, Beigong Chun sneered coldly. “Gou Xi wants to control her, but I’m afraid it won’t be easy.”

He already knew that Zhao Hanzhang was going to cooperate with Gou Xi for a major counterattack. Although she hadn’t said what price she paid to persuade Gou Xi, it was obvious that Gou Xi wouldn’t agree to deploy troops so easily. Clearly, Zhao Hanzhang had paid an enormous price.

Beigong Chun would also participate in this counterattack.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even need to persuade him—as soon as she mentioned it, he agreed.

He likewise didn’t want to be stuck in Yuzhou. He had been ordered to come support Yuzhou with only one wish—to resolve Yuzhou’s troubles as soon as possible so he could return to Xiliang.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed repeatedly. “General Beigong is truly too good. He’s the only person who didn’t set conditions with me.”

Fu Tinghan said, “He has a pure heart. Isn’t it good that he didn’t set conditions with you?”

“It’s very good, but I feel a bit guilty. Fortunately, he didn’t make demands. If he had asked for the condition of returning to Xiliang after the battle, should I agree or not?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “If I agreed, I’d feel heartache. If I didn’t agree, I couldn’t get past my own conscience.”

“Such a small request, and not agreeing would make me seem very stingy.”