Chapter 373 - 367 Stirring Up Discord
The people of Yu State would not provide intelligence to the Xiongnu, and at this time, they couldn’t capture the local people. Most of the people had either died or hidden away in the forests, out of sight. Village fortresses seemed deserted, yet they did not consider their previous methods too harsh or severe, forcing the people to flee.
Instead, they believed that the Jin ministers were too ruthless, managing their subordinates strictly, which made it possible to fortify defenses and clear the area, leaving the Xiongnu without anyone to question.
The military report reached Liu Yuan, who was infuriated. Seeing the positions of the lost cities, he realized that he had fallen into Zhao Hanzhang’s strategy of luring the tiger out of the mountains.
The places they had previously occupied had been robbed, and it was impossible to return, not only because their forces were constrained but also due to morale.
Going back to attack the city again would definitely stir war-weariness among the soldiers. It was better to go all out to capture Guan City, apprehend Zhao Hanzhang, kill her to boost morale before encircling and attacking southwards.
If he could take Yu State, it would divide Jin State in two, making it impossible for the east and west to respond to each other, and Yu State lay next to Luoyang, allowing him to easily destroy Jin State in the future.
This was also a principal reason for Liu Yuan to shift the attack towards Yu State after failing to capture Luoyang.
Thinking of the recent setbacks in the war, he could not suppress the anger in his chest. Everything had been going smoothly before, but who could have known they would suffer such defeats?
Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Hanzhang!
Liu Yuan gritted his teeth in hatred, but at this moment, his mind was also diverted by Gou Xi, no longer fixated solely on Zhao Hanzhang.
He never expected Gou Xi to take action, and so forcefully, disregarding the rearguard as he deployed large forces.
Liu Yuan asked, "Where is Prince East Sea?"
"Perhaps he doesn’t yet know what’s happening here?"
Of course, Prince East Sea knew, so he planned to learn from Liu Yuan, waiting for him and Gou Xi to suffer mutual defeat before deploying troops to take Gou Xi, then dealing with Liu Yuan.
Thus, he remained inactive, and both Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi calculated that he would not act, allowing them to focus on dealing with Liu Yuan.
The Xiongnu forces suffered heavy blows, with Shi Le losing three battles in a row, forced to move twice by Gou Xi, but still gradually approaching Guan City, unable to hold back from writing to Liu Yuan, "The timing is lost, no need to force it."
Suggesting Liu Yuan to retreat.
Liu Yuan did not listen, and Wang Mi could not help but repeatedly send messengers to report to Liu Yuan, that assaults were fierce today, losing a city;
For instance, "Dispersed Jin people emerged from the mountains and helped Jin soldiers set traps, causing significant losses to our Han Kingdom’s soldiers."
Over the past few days, Zhao Hanzhang occasionally fought the Xiongnu forces outside the city with mixed outcomes.
When losing, they couldn’t breach the city; when winning, they couldn’t drive the enemy away.
But they still won more often than lost, and since they had no reinforcements, the news from various places was not very favorable, causing some drop in morale.
Noticing their weakened offensive, Zhao Hanzhang simply ordered the gates to be opened, leading the frustrated soldiers out, annihilating the demoralized Xiongnu forces, once again breaking the siege.
Meanwhile, Beigong Chun was even more fearless, rumored to have stealthily advanced west and north, almost reaching Liu Yuan’s camp, forcing Liu Yuan to order a retreat.
Liu Yuan told all his generals and soldiers, "Now that the Jin army’s morale is still high, do not force it, we can wait until their vigor dissipates."
So the armies withdrew.
Gou Xi stubbornly pursued them, trying to seize this opportunity to deal a major blow to the Xiongnu, at least making them dare not venture south again soon.
Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun shared the same thought, so they both deployed troops to tightly engage the Xiongnu, slowing their regrouping speed and hindering their retreat.
Only the Yu State Army commanded by Zhao Ming and others, seeing the Xiongnu forces retreat, immediately followed to reclaim the cities without any intent to pursue.
After driving them out of Yu State, Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun did not linger but followed the Xiongnu retreating route all the way north, preventing them from approaching Luoyang again.
They relentlessly chased them into Shangdang before finally halting, watching as they crossed the river and left.
With a river between them, the Xiongnu Emperor Liu Yuan, who had remained hidden in the rear, finally separated from his entourage to meet Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun by the river with his imperial carriage.
Seeing Liu Yuan, the Jin army immediately drew their bows and aimed.
Fu Tinghan took one look and commented, "It’s out of range."
Zhao Hanzhang felt a sense of regret, raised her hand to signal the soldiers to lower their bows.
The Zhao Family Army uniformly lowered their bows, while Huang An and the Xiliang Iron Cavalry looked at Beigong Chun.
Beigong Chun slightly nodded, and only then did everyone lower their bows aimed at the opposite bank.
Liu Yuan took in everything, observing both armies obeying orders perfectly, he couldn’t help but exclaim loudly, "General Beigong and General Zhao, such talents, why follow a petty person like Sima Yue?"
Especially Beigong Chun, he knew Zhao Hanzhang had family in Yu State and did not expect to persuade her, thus focusing mainly on Beigong Chun.
He loudly advised, "General Beigong, you have saved Luoyang twice, a great merit for the Jin court, but how has Jin State Court treated you? Isn’t our fight on the battlefield to realize our ambitions, to be ennobled, to benefit our descendants?"
"Yet now you can’t even ensure your own safety, is such a Jin State still worth your loyalty?" Liu Yuan shouted, "The General may not covet fame and wealth, but what about your Xiliang soldiers? Guan City was besieged for over twenty days, how much grain and provisions do you have left under your command? And how much support did the court provide?"
Zhao Hanzhang cursed Prince East Sea and the emperor in her heart, it was their foolish actions that caused so many Han people to defect to Liu Yuan, because following Great Jin indeed offered no chance to fulfill ambitions, and there was even a risk of losing life.
As she cursed in her heart, she didn’t hold back her words and directly turned to Beigong Chun, saying, "General Beigong, although Liu Yuan is Xiongnu, his words weren’t wrong, Prince East Sea is unjust, and the court is disordered, we should think more for ourselves."
When Liu Yuan spoke, Beigong Chun did not react much, but hearing Zhao Hanzhang, he couldn’t help but gape at her, looking stunned and unsure, "You..."
Was she going to defect to the Xiongnu?
The doubting words hadn’t left his mouth when Zhao Hanzhang already said, "However, Liu Yuan is Xiongnu; non-our race their hearts will be differ. Ultimately, there are more Han people under heaven; his words are not to be trusted. Even if you don’t trust the Jin court, this person is equally untrustworthy."
Beigong Chun:... You’ve said both the good and bad, what more could he say?
However, he quietly sighed in relief, as long as she wasn’t contemplating defecting to the Xiongnu.
He didn’t have time to ponder Zhao Hanzhang’s deeper intentions.
Liu Yuan continued to persuade Beigong Chun, offering enticing terms after sowing discord, "If the General comes over, I am willing to appoint you as Chief of Staff, ennobling you as Duke of Xiliang, with all the beauties and treasures you desire!"
Zhao Hanzhang listened on the side, feeling tempted, thinking Liu Yuan’s conditions were too generous, far exceeding what the Jin emperor and Prince East Sea could offer.
Thus, she turned to look at Beigong Chun, waiting for his reaction.
Beigong Chun remained expressionless, unmoved.