This was a Zhao Army tradition. Chen Wu wasn’t fighting under her command for the first time, so he quickly gave the order. The soldiers shouted “Surrender your weapons and you won’t be killed” while killing their way into the palace.

But no one believed them. Everyone still desperately ran outside. If they encountered Zhao’s Army or the Qihuo Army, they resisted with their lives…

A young eunuch who looked only eleven or twelve years old stumbled along among the Imperial Guards running outside. The Imperial Guards beside him were all fighting with Zhao’s Army. Blood and severed arms flew everywhere. His face was pale. He stumbled half-bent over, trying to dodge people and run out of the palace.

Zhao Erlang had already dismounted, his spear tucked at his side, spinning rapidly forward at high speed, sweeping away the approaching Xiongnu soldiers. When he neared the central formation, he slid his long spear into his hand, the spear flowing like a water dragon, stabbing continuously to create two blood flowers, flipping two people away. Then he turned around. The corner of his eye caught someone rushing at him. He thrust his spear forward. When he turned his head and saw clearly it was a young eunuch, his hand moved, and the direction went awry. The spear stabbed past the young eunuch’s neck…

The young eunuch saw a spear thrust at him. In just a blink, it stabbed past his neck going backward. The next moment, he felt his neck burning hot. His lips trembled—he felt he was going to die…

Seeing a large saber chopping down, Zhao Erlang’s brows furrowed. His spear smoothly struck upward, deflecting the blade chopping toward the young eunuch. Then he swung his spear, and the blade was flipped away. He withdrew and thrust out, and the Xiongnu Imperial Guard was pierced through the chest.

Zhao Erlang pulled out his spear. The spear pressed down and swept, pressing the dazed young eunuch to bend his head and waist, then striking a man’s chest and abdomen, sending him flying.

Zhao Erlang took two steps forward and grabbed the young eunuch who was almost prostrate on the ground. He even shook him. Seeing nothing fell from his body, he was somewhat disappointed.

He tossed him aside. But seeing him stupidly fall to the ground without even knowing to take a knife for self-defense, he said disdainfully, “Why are you still standing there? If you don’t want to die, follow me.”

The young eunuch trembled, lowering his head and not daring to respond, thinking Zhao Erlang had mistaken him for someone else.

But after Zhao Erlang walked forward two steps and killed two people, he reacted and turned back to ask him, “You’ve surrendered, right?”

Just then, Zhao soldiers beside him were loudly shouting “Surrender your weapons and you won’t be killed.” The young eunuch was quick-witted and immediately reacted. He immediately knelt and kowtowed, “Surrendered, surrendered! This slave is willing to pledge loyalty to the General.”

Zhao Erlang’s personal guards had already surrounded him, protecting Zhao Erlang in the middle. So he wasn’t afraid of being stabbed in the back. He pulled the person up disdainfully. “We’re in battle. If you kneel down, you might get your head chopped off. If you want to kneel, go outside to kneel.”

Zhao Erlang called to his personal guards, “Hurry up, let’s charge in first and capture the Xiongnu Emperor.”

The young eunuch hurriedly followed with small steps. Seeing them fighting toward the main hall, he whispered to Zhao Erlang, “General, His Majesty and the others aren’t in the main hall.”

Zhao Erlang asked, “Then where are they?”

The young eunuch immediately said, “In the rear hall. His Majesty is ill and hasn’t gone to the main hall for a long time. Right now His Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the princes are all in the rear hall.”

Hearing this, Zhao Erlang immediately had him lead the way, then took his troops and killed toward the rear hall.

Chen Wu was single-mindedly attacking the main hall and didn’t know this. Seeing Zhao Erlang first killing toward the rear hall, he thought he was providing support for his left flank. Moreover, gold, silver, jewels, and such were mostly in the rear palace.

Actually, Chen Wu also wanted to go rob the rear palace, but merit was also very important.

He was different from generals like Zhao Erlang. They were Zhao’s Army. Beigong Chun’s Xiliang Army had also followed Zhao Hanzhang early on. When his Qihuo Army came, it was in a cooperative model.

Now that they’d pledged allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang, no matter what, they needed to establish great merit and let everyone see the Qihuo Army’s capabilities.

So he led the Qihuo Army to desperately fight toward the main hall, wanting to be the first to charge in and capture the Emperor.

Zhao Hanzhang still preferred to clear out enemies first before continuing, so she lagged one step and headed for the rear palace. She grabbed a palace maid trying to flee outside, placed her blade across her neck, and said, “Where is Liu Yuan?”

The palace maid trembled and didn’t speak.

Zhao Hanzhang then said, “If you’re willing to confess, I’ll count it as a merit for you and give you an official position.”

The palace maid immediately said, “In the rear hall. This slave is willing to guide the Governor.”

So Zhao Hanzhang went first. Zhao Erlang lagged one step, killing his way into the rear hall from the left.

The rear palace was in great chaos. Everywhere were screaming, fleeing palace maids and eunuchs. Zhao’s Army didn’t pay them much attention. They even turned a blind eye to treasures fallen on the ground, directly searching everywhere for people.

The rear palace had many Xiongnu soldiers lying in ambush. By the time Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang finally killed their way to the rear hall, there weren’t many people left in the palace hall.

Liu Qin and other officials all drew their swords to resist, but before getting close to Zhao Hanzhang, they were captured by Zeng Yue and other personal guards, their necks pressed by blades to the ground. Some who resisted violently were directly killed. Most were pressed to the ground with blades at their necks.

Zhao Hanzhang, covered in blood, walked into the rear hall. Seeing Liu Yuan sitting at the head position, she exhaled and scanned the room. Not seeing any familiar people in the hall, she asked, “Liu Emperor, where are your Crown Prince and various princes?”

Liu Yuan was seeing Zhao Hanzhang in person for the first time. He couldn’t help looking her up and down. “Governor Zhao has exhausted all schemes, yet it’s still been in vain. They’ve all left.”

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and ordered Zeng Yue and Zhao Erlang, “Go pursue!”

The two agreed and immediately each selected a team of soldiers to pursue.

Zhao Hanzhang turned back and nodded at Liu Yuan. “Liu Emperor, please move and go out to let everyone cease fighting. To continue fighting would only waste lives needlessly.”

Liu Yuan didn’t move. He smiled lightly. “I’ve long heard Governor Zhao has a benevolent heart. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation. However, I am already old and decrepit and can’t manage them anymore.”

Zhao Hanzhang frowned slightly. Then she heard Liu Yuan say, “I told you, this trip of yours was wasted effort. Not only can you not catch my children, even me—you can’t have me.”

Having said this, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed sideways on his seat.

Zhao Hanzhang froze, then rushed forward. She placed two fingers on his neck to check. Seeing he still had breath, she hurriedly laid him down gently, then went to pinch his philtrum. “Quickly find a physician!”

After speaking, she remembered they were in the middle of battle. The military doctors were all at the rear. She shouted again, “Go find the Xiongnu imperial physicians! Quickly!”

The captured Liu Qin and others were also greatly alarmed and cried out in succession, “Your Majesty!”

Liu Yuan was pinched until it hurt. He groggily woke up. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang was desperately seeking medical help for him, he couldn’t help smiling. “Governor Zhao, if you had been born ten years earlier, I definitely wouldn’t have rebelled against Jin, and there would be no Han State.”

Zhao Hanzhang saw his face turning greenish. She’d already used all the medical methods she could, so she quietly knelt on one knee and listened to him speak.

“I know you don’t like killing. I beg Governor Zhao for one thing.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression wasn’t good. “Please speak.”

“If they’re truly unfortunate and captured by Governor Zhao, please spare their lives, especially my youngest son. He’s innocent and kind. He’s never harmed any Jin officials nor killed innocent people. Please spare his life.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and agreed, “Alright!”

Seeing she agreed so readily, Liu Yuan couldn’t help smiling again. “For me, Liu Yuan, to die at Governor Zhao’s hands is an honor. If my Han State perishes at your hands, it won’t be unjust. I, I have no regrets, no regrets…”

Having said this, Liu Yuan’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier, gradually closing.

—