Hearing this, Wang Zhang became angry, but seeing Shi Le’s equally displeased expression, he didn’t dare lose his temper. Instead, he proposed, “General, we have too many prisoners in the army. Taking them along is inconvenient. Why not let me go deal with them?”
After brief consideration, Shi Le agreed, but added, “Extract Wang Yan and the other officials and aristocrats. Keep them separately confined—I have use for them.”
Wang Zhang acknowledged the order and turned to leave.
Shi Le glanced at Zhang Bin, who immediately led people to follow, pulling Wang Yan and others along with their families out for separate confinement.
Wang Siniang and Wang Huifeng had been hiding among the refugees hoping to blend in, but Wang Siniang’s outstanding appearance and their luxurious clothing—despite being soiled, the quality was still evident—led to them being dragged out as well.
Wang Siniang clenched her teeth silently and sat with Wang Huifeng among the group of officials and aristocrats.
Seated calmly in the center was Wang Yan.
Wang Siniang sat angrily beside her father and asked, “Father, the realm is on the brink of collapse, yet you remain so calm?”
Wang Yan opened his eyes to see his two daughters had returned to his side. He sighed deeply. “It is the time, it is fate. The great trends of the realm are predetermined by destiny—how could I change them?”
“Like you two—you were destined to return to my side. No matter how you struggled, you would ultimately return to me.”
Hearing this, Wang Siniang turned away huffily without speaking.
Wang Huifeng was calmer. She asked, “Does Father believe our current capture and being meat on the chopping block is also predetermined by fate?”
Wang Yan only sighed without answering.
Wang Huifeng continued, “How does Father think Shi Le will dispose of us? Can you calculate our outcome?”
Wang Yan reassured his daughters, “He won’t kill us.”
He explained, “Though Shi Le is cruel, he knows how to employ talented people. I have ability, and you two have appearance, character, and family background. He won’t kill us.”
Nearby Jin officials who heard this all breathed sighs of relief, saying to Wang Yan, “Please protect us, Grand Commandant.”
“Yes, yes, please protect us, Grand Commandant.”
Wang Yan gave no indication, only sighing deeply again. But this time, his sigh was interrupted before it could end. The refugees in the distance were being driven by the barbarians into a tighter mass, their range constricted.
Wang Yan watched this, his eyes narrowing, unease rising in his heart.
Wang Zhang approached with two teams of archers—a full two hundred men. Many others carried torches and firewood.
With a wave of Wang Zhang’s hand, soldiers threw the firewood toward the center where the refugees were gathered. Then he raised his hand, and the two hundred archers immediately aimed at the fifty thousand refugees.
The refugees began crying out. Even Wang Yan couldn’t help but stand to observe.
Wang Siniang’s eyes widened. She asked uneasily, “What are they trying to do?”
From the platform, Wang Zhang sneered and turned to look at the literati on the side. “Minister Wang, Grand Commandant Wang, you celestial favorites are of extraordinary insight. But I can guarantee they’ve never witnessed this scene. Today I shall invite you to observe what I call—roasting live sheep! Hahaha…”
Wang Zhang burst into wild laughter.
Even the composed Wang Yan’s expression changed.
Wang Siniang looked confused, but Wang Huifeng covered her chest and stepped back twice, her face pale as she knelt before Wang Yan. “Father, please save them.”
Wang Yan’s face showed some ashen despair. “We are all prisoners now. How can we save anyone?”
“Father, if you want to save them, you surely can. You said yourself Shi Le won’t kill us. Take us and stand before them—I don’t believe Wang Zhang would dare act.”
Wang Yan: “But what if he does dare?”
Wang Huifeng’s face darkened. “You are Grand Commandant and Minister of Works of Great Jin. Protecting the common people is your duty. Even if you die, it would be a worthy death. What is there to fear?”
Wang Yan said nothing.
Wang Huifeng looked at him with disappointment, rose, and turned to rush toward the other side. Soldiers blocked her path.
Seeing this, Wang Zhang’s eyes narrowed slightly. He waved his hand. “Since the former Crown Princess wishes to die for her country alongside these live sheep, grant her wish.”
The soldiers looked toward Zhang Bin.
Zhang Bin considered for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Shi Le only wanted officials like Wang Yan—whether their family members were present didn’t matter much.
Only then did the soldiers lower their spears and let her through. Seeing this, Wang Siniang bit her lip and also rushed toward that side.
Wang Huifeng pushed her back. “Why have you come? Go back to Father quickly.”
Wang Yan also frowned deeply and called out, “Siniang, come back!”
Wang Siniang said stubbornly, “I won’t!”
Wang Yan rarely lost his composure. Stamping his foot in anger, he could do nothing about his two obstinate daughters.
Wang Huifeng stared at Wang Siniang for a while, then said tearfully, “Very well. Living may not necessarily be better than dying.”
She then pulled Wang Siniang to stand before the refugees, raising her chin to address Wang Zhang on the platform loudly. “General Shi, you went to such trouble to seize these people—will you just kill them all?”
She continued, “Whether enslaving them or selling them, they all have uses. Surely they’re worth more than burning them to bones?”
Wang Zhang reached for his bow, lazily nocking an arrow. “Stop shouting. General Shi won’t listen to you. If you must blame someone, blame Zhao Hanzhang for pursuing too urgently. Taking you people along would only be a burden.”
Wang Siniang couldn’t help but cry out, “Since you think we’re burdens, why take us in the first place? Wouldn’t it be better to release us?”
Wang Huifeng tugged at her sleeve, signaling her not to speak.
Wang Zhang, who had been about to shoot an arrow through her, couldn’t help but laugh uproariously at her words. He simply released his half-drawn bow and said gleefully, “Exactly right—taking you along is burdensome. Releasing you? You might turn around and become Jin army, Zhao family army, or even Xiliang Army attacking us. So the best solution is to kill you all.”
“Kill you, roast you, and you might even serve as military rations for a couple of days.”
Hearing that he intended to eat them, Wang Huifeng and Wang Siniang turned to vomit.
The refugees encircled in the center trembled even more violently. Some couldn’t help but cry aloud.
Seeing them so terrified, Wang Zhang grew even more pleased. He raised his bow and arrow again, the arrowhead aimed at Wang Huifeng.
Watching anxiously from the side, Wang Yan urgently called out, “Erniang! Siniang! Come back quickly!”
Behind Wang Yan, Sima Fan suddenly burst into laughter, then rose from the filthy ground supporting himself on his knees. Disheveled, he walked forward to stand before the refugees. “I have been supported by ten thousand people. Surely I have at least this much courage. I am far inferior to these women—no wonder Zhao Hanzhang, a mere woman, can govern Yuzhou.”
Tears streaming down his face, he declared, “The men of Great Jin are indeed far inferior to women.”
He spread his arms wide and shouted at Wang Zhang on the platform, “Come! Aim at me first.”
The Jin court officials and aristocratic families who had remained silent were shocked. They all knelt weeping. “Your Highness, how has it come to this? Please return and preserve yourself.”
Others pleaded with Wang Zhang not to kill the Prince of Xiangyang.
But Sima Fan turned to rebuke them sternly: “What more is there to say about today’s events?”
Even Shi Le couldn’t help but emerge from his tent, standing with hands behind his back to observe from a distance.
—