The common people of Yuzhou wouldn’t provide intelligence to the Xiongnu. Moreover, at this time they couldn’t even capture local people—most civilians had either died or hidden in the forests, disappearing from sight. Village after village, fortress after fortress seemed empty. Even now, they didn’t realize their earlier methods had been too cruel and harsh, causing the people to flee.
Instead, they believed the Jin officials were too ruthless and governed with excessive severity, which was why they could implement a scorched earth policy so effectively that they couldn’t even find anyone to question.
The military reports reached Liu Yuan, infuriating him greatly. Looking at the locations of the lost cities, he knew he had fallen for Zhao Hanzhang’s diversion tactic.
The places they had previously captured had already been retaken, and returning was impossible—not only because their forces were tied up, but also because of morale.
Going back to re-attack cities would definitely cause war-weariness among the soldiers. It would be better to press forward in one vigorous effort, capture Guancheng, capture Zhao Hanzhang, kill her as a sacrifice to raise morale, then surround and attack southward.
As long as he could take Yuzhou, he would split the Jin state in two, making it impossible for the east and west to support each other. With Yuzhou right beside Luoyang, he could raise his hand and destroy the Jin state in the future.
This was also an important reason why Liu Yuan turned to attack Yuzhou after failing to take Luoyang.
Thinking of this year’s unfavorable military campaigns, he couldn’t suppress the anger in his chest. Everything had been going smoothly before—who knew they would repeatedly suffer setbacks.
Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Hanzhang!
Liu Yuan ground his teeth in hatred, but at this moment his attention was involuntarily diverted by Gou Xi, no longer fixated solely on Zhao Hanzhang alone.
He hadn’t expected Gou Xi to make a move, and with such force, actually deploying a large army without regard for his rear.
Liu Yuan asked: “What about the Prince of Donghai?”
“Perhaps he still doesn’t know about the situation here?”
The Prince of Donghai certainly knew, which is why he planned to learn from Liu Yuan—wait for him and Gou Xi to exhaust each other, then deploy his troops to take down Gou Xi before dealing with Liu Yuan.
So he didn’t move his troops, and both Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi had calculated that he wouldn’t move, which is why they could confidently deal with Liu Yuan.
The Xiongnu army suffered heavy losses. Shi Le lost three consecutive battles, chased by Gou Xi to change locations twice, but was still gradually approaching Guancheng. He couldn’t help but send a memorial to Liu Yuan: “The opportunity has been lost and cannot be forced.”
He suggested Liu Yuan withdraw the troops.
Liu Yuan didn’t listen. Wang Mi also couldn’t help repeatedly sending people to report to Liu Yuan—today where such-and-such offensive was fierce, they lost a city.
Or for instance: “Jin civilians scattered into the mountains and wilderness have emerged to help Jin soldiers set traps. Our Han state’s officers and men have suffered heavy casualties.”
These past two days, Zhao Hanzhang had been fighting intermittently with the Xiongnu forces outside the city, with wins and losses.
When they lost, the enemy couldn’t break into the city. When they won, they couldn’t drive the opponents away either.
However, there were still more victories than defeats. Combined with the fact that they had no reinforcements and the news from various places wasn’t favorable to them, morale was somewhat low.
Seeing their offensive weaken, Zhao Hanzhang simply had the city gates opened and led the soldiers who had been holding back their frustration in a charge, annihilating the demoralized Xiongnu troops, once again breaking the siege.
Beigong Chun was even braver. It was said he advanced westward then northward along the way, nearly reaching Liu Yuan’s camp. At this point, Liu Yuan had no choice but to order a retreat.
Liu Yuan told all the army’s officers and men: “Now that the Jin army’s morale is still high, we cannot force it. We can wait quietly for their dragon energy to dissipate.”
Thus the various armies withdrew.
Gou Xi pursued them relentlessly, wanting to take this opportunity to severely damage the Xiongnu, so they wouldn’t dare move south again in the short term.
Both Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun thought the same, so they both deployed troops to tightly pursue the Xiongnu, slowing their convergence speed and hampering their retreat.
Only the Yuzhou army commanded by Zhao Ming and others, seeing the Xiongnu retreat, immediately followed behind to reclaim cities, showing no intention of pursuing.
After driving them out of Yuzhou, neither Zhao Hanzhang nor Beigong Chun stopped, but instead followed the Xiongnu’s retreat route northward, preventing them from approaching Luoyang again.
They didn’t stop until they had driven them into Shangdang and beyond, watching as they crossed the river to leave.
Across the river, the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Yuan, who had been hidden in the rear, finally parted the crowd and approached the river in his imperial carriage to meet Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun.
Seeing Liu Yuan, the Jin army immediately nocked their bows and took aim.
Fu Tinghan glanced once and said: “Not within range.”
Zhao Hanzhang felt regretful inside, raising her hand to signal the officers and men to lower their bows.
The Zhao family army uniformly lowered their bows. Huang An and the other Xiliang cavalry looked toward Beigong Chun.
Beigong Chun nodded slightly, and everyone lowered their bows that had been aimed at the opposite bank.
Liu Yuan took in everything. Seeing both their armies follow orders and prohibitions perfectly, he couldn’t help but call out loudly in admiration: “General Beigong and General Zhao are such talents—why must you pursue that scoundrel Sima Yue?”
Especially Beigong Chun. He knew Zhao Hanzhang’s family and relatives were all in Yuzhou, so he had no hope of persuading her to follow him. Therefore, his attention was mainly on Beigong Chun.
He called out loudly in persuasion: “General Beigong, you have twice saved Luoyang and can be said to have rendered supreme service to the Jin court. But how has the Jin court treated you? We fight on the battlefield precisely to fulfill our ambitions, to be enfeoffed as marquises and ministers, to honor our wives and shade our descendants, don’t we?”
“Yet now, General, you cannot even preserve your life. Is such a Jin state still worth your loyalty?” Liu Yuan declared loudly: “The General may not covet fame and fortune, but what about the Xiliang officers and men who follow you? Guancheng was besieged for over twenty days—how much provisions does the General have left? And how much provision support has the court given you?”
In her heart, Zhao Hanzhang cursed the Prince of Donghai and the Emperor. It was all their manipulations—no wonder so many Han people later defected to Liu Yuan, because following the Great Jin truly couldn’t fulfill one’s ambitions, and you might even lose your life.
She cursed in her heart but didn’t hold back with her mouth either, directly turning to Beigong Chun and saying: “General Beigong, although this Liu Yuan is Xiongnu, his words aren’t wrong. The Prince of Donghai is lawless, the court is in disorder—we should plan more for ourselves.”
Liu Yuan showed little reaction when speaking, but now Beigong Chun couldn’t help but gape, staring at her dumbfounded with an expression full of doubt and uncertainty. “You…”
Could she be planning to defect to the Xiongnu?
The doubtful words hadn’t left his mouth when Zhao Hanzhang already said: “However, Liu Yuan is Xiongnu—those not of our race surely have different hearts. This world ultimately has more Han people. You can listen to his words, but even if you don’t trust the Jin court, this person is equally untrustworthy.”
Beigong Chun: …With both good and bad words said by her, what could he still say?
However, he still quietly breathed a sigh of relief—as long as she wasn’t planning to surrender to the Xiongnu.
He had no time to ponder the deeper meaning of Zhao Hanzhang’s words.
Liu Yuan was still trying to persuade Beigong Chun. After sowing discord, he offered generous terms: “If the General is willing to come, I am willing to employ you with the position of Minister, enfeoff you as Duke of Xiliang—beautiful women and treasures, you shall have everything!”
Zhao Hanzhang, listening from the side, was tempted herself, feeling Liu Yuan’s offered conditions were far too good, far exceeding those of the Jin Emperor and Prince of Donghai.
So she turned to look at Beigong Chun, waiting for his reaction.
Beigong Chun remained expressionless, unmoved.