Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Wang Zhang beside her, then said to Shi Lei, “General Shi, you are Jie Hu, and the Great Jin court has wronged you. So whatever you do, even if I disapprove, I understand you. I must also praise you as a great hero.”

“But the Wang Zhang and Wang Mi brothers are treacherous villains. They are subjects of Great Jin, and Great Jin has never wronged their brothers. Yet they slaughter their fellow countrymen, surpassing even you, General, in cruelty. How can you trust such treacherous men, General?”

Wang Zhang heard her speaking ill of him to his face with such vicious words. His eyes reddened with rage as he roared, “Zhao Hanzhang, stop slandering me!”

Zhao Hanzhang sneered coldly. “Which statement was slander?”

“The Jin court is unjust, unrighteous, and unfaithful. The people suffer. We brothers are merely following heaven’s will…”

“Bah! Wang Zhang, you little wretch! When was the Jin court ever unjust, unrighteous, or unfaithful to the Wang family?” Someone jumped out from the pile of hostages, pointing at Wang Zhang and cursing furiously. “You brothers are the ones who forget your ancestors and are treacherous and cruel! The Jin court treated you brothers well. How did they ever wrong you? Yet you led people to kill our Jin people and destroy our foundation…”

He resented Wang Zhang’s earlier attempt to kill the prisoners—his family members had been among them.

Zhao Hanzhang, seeing him curse so satisfyingly while Wang Zhang’s eyes filled with murderous intent but he restrained himself from acting, smiled and clapped. She said to Shi Lei, “General Shi also saw it. Such a man who forgets his ancestors and is treacherous—everyone wishes to punish him. Do you and your nation’s emperor dare to employ him?”

Wang Zhang suppressed his fury and knelt before Shi Lei. “General, Zhao Hanzhang is merely sowing discord. The Jin court is lawless—one need only look at the chaos throughout the realm to know. Now that you’ve eliminated the number one troublemaker in the realm, the Prince of Donghai, they fear you will take advantage and destroy the Jin court. That’s why they specifically chose us brothers to create discord between us.”

“You and my eldest brother are His Majesty’s right and left arms. If you fall for her provocation, it will give her and the Jin court an opportunity, and the realm’s chaos will never be quelled.”

Shi Lei’s expression softened as he quickly helped him up, nodding repeatedly. “You’re right. How could I fall for her provocation?”

Zhao Hanzhang snorted coldly, tugged on her reins, and stared at Wang Zhang. “Wang Zhang, I hope you remember—heaven values life. Whether Han Chinese, Jie Hu, or Xiongnu, all are human lives. If you have the ability, prove yourself on the battlefield. If you kill prisoners or commoners, I will never forgive you. Heaven is watching as well.”

Wang Zhang didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits, naturally didn’t believe in any heavenly way, and sneered at her.

Zhao Hanzhang clasped her fists to Shi Lei. “General Shi, I take my leave.”

Shi Lei extended his hand with a mild expression. “General Zhao, please.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly at him. “I think we’ll meet again very soon. Until we meet again!”

Wang Yan and the many Great Jin officials and aristocratic families watched as Zhao Hanzhang simply turned her horse around and left, without further haggling with Shi Lei or threatening him to sell—oh no, to release them. They stood frozen in place.

Fu Tinghan saw Zhao Hanzhang safely cross the river and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he turn his horse around and say to Fan Ying, “Let’s go. Select those severely wounded and small children to ride in the wagons and speed up our departure.”

Zhao Hanzhang kept her word. The rear became the vanguard, escorting all the hostages away first, while she and Beigong Chun brought up the rear with their forces.

As soon as they retreated from the riverbank, someone suggested, “General, if we attack now while they’re protecting those fifty thousand commoners, they certainly won’t be our match.”

“That’s right. We might even capture Zhao Hanzhang while we’re at it.”

But Zhang Bin said, “General, Luoyang!”

Shi Lei also nodded. “She said ‘until we meet again.’ Clearly she’s sent people to Luoyang. Wang Mi will surely fail. We should leave immediately—we might be able to enter Luoyang before her.”

Capturing Luoyang was indeed far more important than killing Zhao Hanzhang. The generals had no more objections. Everyone quickly mobilized and immediately broke camp to leave.

Wang Yan and the others were swept along again. This time, Shi Lei didn’t plan to take them further and ordered them confined back to their camp first.

Zhao Hanzhang kept the horses at a controlled pace. After traveling barely thirty li, a scout came to report, “Report to the General! They’ve split into two routes. One is heading to Luoyang.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and instructed, “Continue scouting. Don’t follow too closely—just generally know their movements.”

“Yes, sir.”

Beigong Chun watched the scout leave and asked, “Should we send troops to rescue Minister Wang and the others?”

With Shi Lei’s forces now split, if they moved quickly enough to catch up, they could easily rescue the people.

Beigong Chun thought Zhao Hanzhang had deliberately said that to Shi Lei to lure him away, creating an opportunity for rescue.

But Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Beigong Chun and said, “Our men and horses are exhausted now. To attack again would be extremely disadvantageous for us. Moreover, who’s to say this isn’t a trap set by Shi Lei?”

Beigong Chun wasn’t stupid. If this were two years ago, he might have slapped his chest and volunteered, declaring he would definitely rescue them. But now…

Beigong Chun could already understand her underlying meaning—Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t send troops to rescue Wang Yan and the others.

So the question was: Zhao Hanzhang had ransomed so many people, even buying back their womenfolk and offspring, yet specifically left a group of able-bodied officials and aristocrats for Shi Lei. Was she truly constrained by circumstances, or… was this deliberate?

Beigong Chun swallowed and didn’t dare ask her.

They were now far from the Jie Hu. Zhao Hanzhang said to Beigong Chun, “You take the rear. I’ll go to the front and check.”

Zhao Hanzhang rode her horse forward.

Wang Siniang and Wang Huifeng had just spotted Fu Tinghan.

She immediately pulled Wang Huifeng out from the crowd and waved vigorously at Fu Tinghan. “Young Master Fu! Young Master Fu—”

Fu Tinghan turned around and only after some time recognized Wang Siniang.

He quickly rode forward. “Miss Wang Siniang?”

He moved his horse aside to clear the road for the troops and refugees behind them. He dismounted and looked Wang Siniang and Wang Huifeng up and down, somewhat surprised. “You were among the hostages too? What about your brother?”

Wang Siniang said, “My brother isn’t in Luoyang. He went south to travel and study. I never expected to meet Young Master Fu and Sanniang here.”

Thinking of the recent danger, Wang Siniang’s eyes reddened and tears flowed down.

Fu Tinghan frowned and turned to ask Fu’an for a handkerchief.

Fu’an pulled a handkerchief from his robe. “Young master, don’t you have one…”

Fu Tinghan glared at him and had him give the handkerchief to Wang Siniang.

Fan Ying also dismounted and stood to the side, staring intently at Wang Siniang with a vigilant gaze.

Wang Siniang felt somewhat uncomfortable under her stare. She took Fu’an’s handkerchief and wiped her tears, asking Fu Tinghan, “Where’s Sanniang?”

“Siniang?”

Zhao Hanzhang rode her horse up at a trot. After confirming their safety, she left the formation specifically to find Wang Siniang and Wang Huifeng.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang approaching, Wang Siniang’s tears could no longer be held back. She flew forward and threw herself into her arms, crying out loud. “Sanniang, Sister and I almost died! Waaah…”