Zhao Hanzhang frowned. “General Shi, why refuse so quickly? Consider it further. If one bolt of Shu brocade isn’t enough, I can add a bit more.”

Wang Yan: …

Although Zhao Hanzhang was trying to save him, this feeling of being haggled over was very unpleasant.

He pressed his lips tightly together and looked at Zhao Hanzhang. Was he only worth a few bolts of brocade?

Apparently so. From then on, Zhao Hanzhang only kept adding more fabric. After reaching five bolts with Shi Lei still refusing to relent, Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “Very well, the matter of ransoming Minister Wang can be discussed later. I’ve already brought these silks and brocades—there’s no reason to take them back. General Shi, if you won’t release Minister Wang, surely you can release other officials?”

Zhao Hanzhang pointed out several people in succession, including Sima Fan. “The imperial bloodline of our Great Jin—how can you allow such humiliation?”

Shi Lei refused them all. These people he had selected were all officials, officials’ families, aristocrats and their relatives. Letting Zhao Hanzhang ransom even one would strengthen her position.

Unlike those common people who, apart from their lives, had nothing to give Zhao Hanzhang, and she would still need to spend great resources supporting them—

These aristocratic officials, once they felt grateful for Zhao Hanzhang’s kindness, could give her far too much.

She was already powerful now. How could Shi Lei possibly give these people to her?

He would rather kill them all than give them to her.

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression also darkened, becoming increasingly grim. She reached back. “Spear.”

Her personal guard immediately presented her long spear. After taking it, Zhao Hanzhang thrust it forcefully into the ground, standing on a rock and looking arrogantly across at Shi Lei. “General Shi, surely I can ransom their family members? The elderly, women, and children!”

After a moment of silence, Shi Lei said, “Women are acceptable. The elderly and children are not.”

Zhao Hanzhang sneered coldly. “It seems the goodwill from our previous transaction is about to be destroyed. If General Shi shows such disregard for sentiment, then I’ll have no choice but to seize them by force.”

Beigong Chun urged his horse forward two steps and raised his hand. Behind him, the Zhao Family Army and Western Liang Army simultaneously roared, their battle intent blazing as they stared across the riverbank.

Shi Lei stood on the high platform, gazing back at her.

Wang Zhang immediately instigated, “General, Zhao Hanzhang grows increasingly presumptuous. If we retreat at this moment, I fear she’ll think we’re afraid of her and will press us even harder.”

Zhang Bin at his side sneered coldly, thinking to himself: Fool. If he hadn’t spoken, the general would likely have confronted Zhao Hanzhang head-on, but now that he’s opened his mouth, the general will have to consider whether Wang Mi wants to profit from their conflict.

Sure enough, just as Wang Zhang finished speaking, Shi Lei’s cold, stern expression eased. After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, he said to Zhao Hanzhang, “I can sell you their family members, but only women and children under twelve years old.”

Shi Lei continued, “General Zhao, I’ve already made a concession. Don’t push your advantage too far.”

Zhao Hanzhang, holding her long spear, immediately smiled and nodded. “Excellent. General Shi is magnanimous, and I, Zhao Hanzhang, am also straightforward. Someone, bring all the money and goods we’ve brought.”

There actually wasn’t much—just six chests, mostly containing fabrics and miscellaneous items.

Shi Lei didn’t mind and ordered people to bring out all the women and children.

The scene immediately erupted with screams and wailing as some women clung to their husbands or fathers and brothers, refusing to leave.

Shi Xiao forcefully pushed away his wife’s hands and tearfully instructed her, “Don’t be stubborn. Take the children and go. We can’t return to Luoyang—go to Yuzhou. Our family has some connection with the Zhao clan. If you seek their help, you might be able to protect yourselves.”

“Husband, how can I abandon you?”

Shi Xiao pulled their two sons and daughter before her and cried, “Look at them. Even for their sake, you must be strong.”

Many others gave similar instructions to their wives and children. Some, when the barbarians weren’t paying attention, draped a woman’s outer robe over a young man, let down his hair, and passed him off as a woman.

All the women and eligible young children were pushed down from the platform. Wang Huifeng tightly gripped Wang Siniang’s hand and also stepped forward.

Wang Zhang saw this and blocked them with his sword. “Wait. General, these are Wang Yan’s two daughters. If we want to force Wang Yan to submit, his two daughters are still useful.”

Shi Lei pondered.

But as he was thinking, Zhang Bin beside him reminded, “General, Zhao Hanzhang is coming over.”

Shi Lei immediately looked up and saw that Zhao Hanzhang had somehow mounted her horse and was leading a team of riders carrying chests across.

He instinctively tightened his grip on his blade, but she only had about thirty people—there didn’t seem to be much to fear.

So Shi Lei quietly watched as she approached.

This was the first time the two had faced each other so calmly. In their previous encounters, either she had wanted to kill him or he had wanted to kill her.

Zhao Hanzhang straightforwardly clasped her fists to Shi Lei, then turned her gaze to Wang Zhang, her smile fading. “Are you now so powerful in General Shi’s army that you can override his decisions? Even if you could, you shouldn’t place General Shi in a position of dishonor and untrustworthiness.”

Shi Lei’s expression darkened slightly as he glanced at Wang Zhang.

Wang Zhang felt his sword grow heavy as a thousand pounds. Under Shi Lei’s gaze, he withdrew his sword, though he was still unwilling. “General, we can let the other officials go—there are other family members. But Wang Yan only has these two daughters with him…”

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang leaned forward on her horse and said with a radiant smile to Shi Lei, “General Shi, to threaten Grand Commandant Wang, why resort to using his two daughters?”

She continued, “If daughters could truly threaten him, he wouldn’t have allowed the Crown Princess to divorce and return home years ago. Clearly, these two daughters still cannot compare to the greater righteousness of the realm in his eyes.”

Judging others by himself, Shi Lei also felt Wang Yan wouldn’t submit because of his two daughters, so he waved his hand and let Wang Huifeng and her sister leave.

Wang Siniang felt both heartbroken and relieved. She couldn’t help but turn to look at her father.

Seeing her eyes red-rimmed with tears about to spill, Wang Yan sighed and waved to the sisters.

Wang Huifeng’s eyes also reddened. She pulled Wang Siniang to kneel in Wang Yan’s direction and respectfully kowtowed three times before taking her sister’s hand and walking to the center.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang wave her hand, ordering people to bring forward the goods.

Shi Lei didn’t even glance at the chests, only staring at Zhao Hanzhang. “The Zhao Family Army may take these people away.”

However, Zhao Hanzhang drew out a calling card from her robe and handed it toward Shi Lei. “General Shi, this is my calling card. If one day you change your mind and are willing to exchange these scholar-officials with me, simply send word and I will definitely bring silver and come calling.”

Shi Lei looked at the calling card she extended, paused, then nodded slightly to his personal guard, who immediately stepped forward to receive the card and deliver it to Shi Lei.

Zhao Hanzhang was satisfied. She raised her hand and waved slightly backward, and her personal guards immediately led the selected hostages back.