CHAPTER 504: CHAPTER 498: NOTIFICATION

Zhao Hanzhang reined in her horse, and across the street, Liu Cong had been waiting for some time. Seeing the expected person appear, a fierce expression that even he didn’t realize flashed in his eyes, "General Zhao, it’s been a while."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and greeted him cheerfully, "General Liu, is your injury healing well?"

Liu Cong said, "Heaven won’t let me die, so it’s healed."

"Congratulations," Zhao Hanzhang continued with a warm smile, "General Liu, why don’t we talk? Right now, you’re surrounded by us. How about I make a way for you to leave?"

Liu Cong sneered, "General Zhao is too confident. Who’s surrounding whom isn’t certain yet."

Zhao Hanzhang curled her lips and asked, "Shall we have a fight then?"

"Fight, we’ll fight. Who’s afraid of whom?"

Liu Cong tilted his head back and asked, "Who will go from your side?"

"I’m willing to go."

Zhao Hanzhang squinted, and when someone from the opposite side stepped forward, she also asked the people behind her, "Who wants to give it a try?"

Zeng Yue immediately said, "General, I’m willing to go."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and let him proceed.

As Liu Cong and Zhao Hanzhang chose their representatives for a duel on the main street leading to the Imperial Palace, Wang Mi launched a fierce attack on the palace. Meanwhile, behind Zhao Hanzhang, Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan simultaneously worked to evacuate the remaining civilians from the city.

To be honest, Luoyang City is now virtually deserted. One year of famine and three years of wars have left innumerable casualties among the citizens of Luoyang;

When Prince East Sea left the capital, he took with him a large number of wealthy families and their entourage, and a staggering ten thousand citizens followed;

Wang Mi killed a batch when he attacked the city.

Although it’s said the south of the city was massacred, in truth, some soldiers acted faster, and along with the recent plundering, deaths occurred elsewhere throughout the city.

The soldiers sent in by Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan had to search many houses to find people, and sometimes the house had occupants, but they still couldn’t find them.

Due to strict orders from above, they dared not ransack randomly to avoid damaging civilian property, so they stood in the yards and conveyed messages, "We are Zhao Family Army from Yu State, and there’s an order from our general for everyone in the city to evacuate Luoyang. A battle is imminent, and staying in the city would lead to unintended harm."

They continued, "If your village chief is still here, let him go to the camp outside the southern outskirts of the city and await orders!"

With that said, they left.

The ones hiding noticed that they did not take any household valuables, and were half-skeptical, hesitated for a moment but still did not move. What if this was a treacherous scheme by the barbarians?

There were also some like Wan Jian’s family who couldn’t find cover in time.

When the Zhao Family Army burst in, Wan Jian’s family was stealthily cooking beans in the kitchen, with nowhere in the kitchen to hide, they were caught off guard.

Wan Jian shielded his wife and children, forcefully pushing them into the gaps behind the firewood, while he, feigning a show of strength, pointed a kitchen knife at the soldiers.

The leading Zhao Family Army soldier was not surprised and didn’t provoke him further, saying, "Look clearly, we are Han people!"

He said, "We are Zhao Family Army from Yu State, sent by the general to save you. Quickly pack up and leave the city, fighting will soon break out in the city."

Wan Jian did not believe them.

It wasn’t that he doubted they were Han people, but that he suspected these soldiers were not here to save anyone, rather intending to take people out, rob them of their belongings, and then sell them as slaves.

The subordinates of Prince East Sea often did such things, and they were used to it.

Soldiers, bandits, sometimes soldiers are no better than bandits.

The soldiers ran through East City and West City, and in the end, only a few people were taken out.

Ji Yuan had already anticipated this. If it weren’t for considering Zhao Hanzhang’s reputation, he would have preferred the soldiers to scour the people out of the city.

However, this wouldn’t work, Zhao Hanzhang naturally needs the support of the people.

Ji Yuan thought for a moment and sent someone to communicate with Zhao Hanzhang.

"What, you want me to make the entire capital know I’ve arrived in the capital?"

"Yes, that’s what Mr. Ji said."

Zhao Hanzhang stroked her chin in thought, and after a moment of realization, said, "I understand, Mr. Ji wants me to inform the people in the Imperial Palace that I’ve come to save them and want them to hold on for a bit longer."

The soldier looked at Zhao Hanzhang with admiration, "That should be the reason."

Zhao Hanzhang then looked at Zeng Yue, who had just retreated due to injury. Zeng Yue indicated he understood, rode forward, and raised the large sword in his hand, shouting loudly towards the opposite side, "Zhao Family Army!"

The Zhao Family Army behind him immediately followed with a loud shout, "Zhao Family Army! Zhao Family Army! Zhao Family Army!"

Not only Liu Cong on the other side, but even Zhao Hanzhang was startled. Hearing the thunderous "Zhao Family Army" three characters, Zhao Hanzhang had to admit, this method is indeed effective, but... what was she intending to have Zeng Yue do again?

Unable to recall, Zhao Hanzhang decided not to think further, letting Zeng Yue lead the soldiers in loud shouting.

Of course, the Xiongnu were unwilling to concede, and one Assistant General came forward, shouting, "Great Commander of the Han Kingdom, Great Commander of the Han Kingdom!"

Indeed, Liu Yuan established the country’s name as Han, persisting in claiming to be a descendant of Liu Bei, believing he shared the same lineage as the Liu Han Dynasty, but everyone knows the truth.

Liu Cong now serves as the Great Commander.

With the shouting done, Zhao Hanzhang, no longer inclined to shout back and forth with Liu Cong, simply told Zeng Yue, "Ask Liu Cong if he concedes after the earlier fight."

Zeng Yue was injured, but the opposing general was hurt even worse, with an arm cut off by Zeng Yue, making it a narrow victory for their side.

Zeng Yue was also proud, and shouted loudly, "Our general asks General Liu, do you concede after the earlier fight?"

The Zhao Family Army behind him immediately followed with a loud shout, "Our general asks General Liu, do you concede after the earlier fight?"

The voice echoed through the sky, not only heard by those in the Imperial Palace but also by the entire city’s citizens.

A boy hiding in a rice jar quietly lifted the lid, listened with ears perked, and heard a huge voice, "Our Great Commander asks the Zhao Family Army, do you dare to fight face to face, do you dare to fight face to face!"

The boy’s heart surged instantly, just hearing from the other side shout, "Come on! Come on!"

The boy immediately took off the lid, climbed out of the rice jar, dove under the bed to grab the long-kept bundle, and slipped out, it’s really Zhao Family Army!

The city is really about to erupt in battle, and now running out...

Not sure if the Zhao Family Army would capture and sell them, heard that Zhao Hanzhang’s reputation in Xiping is good, supposedly kind-hearted, should not rob and sell them as slaves, right?

The boy sneaked out and, after a couple of streets, found that the number of people on the streets gradually increased, everyone sneaking towards the south of the city.

But not sure whether it was because Zhao Hanzhang was blocking the front, the usual street bustling with Xiongnu robbers was empty, the boy took a turn in the street, only focused on looking ahead, didn’t watch his step, then tripped and lowered his head to see, couldn’t help but cry out.

On the ground lay three or four Xiongnu, covered in blood.