The decision made by Lu Zhi and others baffled not only the noble families but also the Yellow Turban Army.
"What did you say?"
"The Great Han Zhonglang General Huangfu Song wants to see me?"
Upon hearing the report from his scouts, Zhang Bao's expression became peculiar.
What was happening?
Had they realized they couldn't defeat them and now wanted to resolve things through negotiation?
He was dreaming!
Since Luoyang City had fallen into his hands, there was no question of taking it back!
A siege?
He wasn't afraid at all!
As soon as his elder brother and third brother arrived, he would be able to expand his forces and secure the entire Sili region.
Wouldn't that solve the issues of troop recruitment and supplies?
Never mind that the Sili region was now sparsely populated; if he truly needed manpower, he could still find people.
Not to mention anything else,
The permanent resident population of Luoyang City alone had to be two to three hundred thousand, right?
These were all potential soldiers!
Therefore,
After contemplating the request for a meeting from Zhonglang General Huangfu Song, Zhang Bao waved his hand and said:
"Tell him to get lost!"
"If you have the ability, we'll meet on the battlefield. This general will not accept any negotiation requests!"
"Yes!"
The scout, having received the order, responded and hurried to the outskirts of the city to negotiate.
However,
Huangfu Song had a mission this time, and he wouldn't give up without seeing Zhang Bao.
"Little brother~!"
Facing the vigilant eyes of the Yellow Turban scout, Huangfu Song smiled and produced a silver ingot.
"Please trouble yourself to report again, and say that my purpose for coming this time is to discuss matters concerning the noble families with General Digong."
"Hmm???"
The Yellow Turban scout, who had intended to refuse sternly, hesitated upon hearing that Huangfu Song's purpose was related to the noble families.
He knew!
Currently, the Yellow Turban Army's greatest enemies were the noble families scattered throughout the Han Dynasty.
But,
Wasn't this running dog of the imperial court in league with those noble families?
How could it be...
"Little brother~!"
Suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, Huangfu Song produced another silver ingot, a brilliant smile on his face, and said:
"Please trouble yourself to make another trip!"
"This..."
The Yellow Turban scout, snapping back to reality, looked at the two silver ingots before him and swallowed with some difficulty.
He was just a small fry!
Normally, let alone whole silver ingots, he rarely even saw even small pieces of silver.
Let alone two whole ingots at once!
He only needed to deliver a message?
It shouldn't be a big deal, right?
Besides,
With these two silver ingots, he could find a better position for himself.
Thinking this,
The Yellow Turban scout took the silver ingots and carefully tucked them into his embrace, his expression a little excited as he instructed:
"You wait here for a moment. I'll go and report. Whether General Digong will see you or not is another matter!"
"No problem!"
Huangfu Song's smile remained unchanged, but he felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.
As long as he was willing to report, that was enough!
As for whether he would be seen or not?
Although he didn't know what kind of deal Zhang Bao had struck with the noble families that led him to let them leave Luoyang,
As long as Zhang Bao wasn't completely irrational, he would likely not refuse to meet.
Because the noble families were still their hidden enemies!
As long as the noble families existed, their rule would not be stable.
And so it was!
When the scout stood before Zhang Bao for the second time and said that Huangfu Song was there to discuss matters concerning the noble families, Zhang Bao immediately became restless.
"Quickly bring him, no..."
Zhang Bao, who had intended to have the scout bring the man in, suddenly stood up and straightened his robes.
"Quickly escort this general to greet him personally!"
"Ah?"
The scout was stunned. The two silver ingots in his embrace suddenly felt hot.
General Digong was going to personally greet that running dog of the imperial court, no, Zhonglang General?
What should he do?!
If that fellow reported him to General Digong, wouldn't he be in trouble?
"What are you staring at?"
Zhang Bao, already anxious, glared at the scout.
"Don't think I don't know about your little tricks. I just don't have time to deal with you now. Hurry up and lead this general over!"
"Yes, yes..."
The scout, coming back to his senses, had sweat beading on his forehead but dared not say anything more.
Soon,
Led by the Yellow Turban scout, Zhang Bao, along with a retinue of personal guards, arrived outside the city gate.
Although he was very interested in Huangfu Song's proposal, he still had to guard against being tricked.
What if the other party lured him out and then rained arrows upon him?
He had to be cautious!
It was only when he saw that Huangfu Song had indeed come alone that Zhang Bao finally felt at ease.
In any case, Huangfu Song had shown his attitude.
Furthermore,
If it came to a one-on-one fight, Zhang Bao felt he was no less capable than those imperial generals.
Therefore,
After arriving outside the city with his guards, Zhang Bao signaled his guards to wait on the side and personally walked up to Huangfu Song, making a gesture of invitation.
"General Huangfu, you must have had a tiring journey. Why don't we go inside and discuss?"
"General Digong is too kind!"
Facing his opponent of the past half-year, Huangfu Song's smile became much more natural.
He nodded in agreement and followed Zhang Bao into the city.
He wasn't afraid that Zhang Bao would make a move against him!
Or rather,
Ever since he had decided to personally enter the enemy's lair, Huangfu Song had already disregarded the possibility of his own death.
Even though this possibility was very small!
But since he had come, there was no need to be timid.
To this,
Zhang Bao's old face flushed, and he suddenly felt that his perspective was a little narrow.
Look at him?
Even facing such a surrounding enemy, he showed no signs of panic.
And himself?
Despite having hundreds of thousands of soldiers as backup, he had so many reservations when meeting?
It was truly shameful!
However,
Just as Zhang Bao was feeling ashamed, he was bewildered by a remark from Huangfu Song.
"Wh-what?"
Recalling the words he had just heard, Zhang Bao pointed at himself in surprise.
"General Huangfu, did you just say you want me to hand over His Majesty's corpse to you?"
"That's right!"
Seeing Zhang Bao's surprised expression, Huangfu Song frowned, a sense of foreboding in his heart.
It seemed retrieving His Majesty's remains would be difficult.
But,
Before Huangfu Song could figure out what to trade, he saw Zhang Bao say with a dejected expression:
"General Huangfu, to be honest, we haven't found Emperor Ling either!"
"What?"
Huangfu Song's footsteps faltered, and a hint of suspicion on his face, he asked:
"General Digong, what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?"
Zhang Bao was confused by the question and instinctively repeated:
"We really haven't found Emperor Ling. The entire imperial palace is almost burnt to ashes!"
"Hiss~!"
Confirming he hadn't misheard, Huangfu Song's pupils widened instantly.
His Majesty wasn't dead?
No,
That's not right!
Recalling Zhang Bao's words from earlier, Huangfu Song eagerly stepped forward and asked:
"General Digong, you just said the imperial palace was almost burnt to ashes?"
"Yes!"
Zhang Bao had also come to his senses by now. So this fellow was here looking for the old emperor?
Despite this,
Considering the courage of this man who had come alone, Zhang Bao cooperatively explained:
"Before we entered the city, there was already unrest in the imperial palace. A group of people directly stormed the palace, killed the old emperor, and set fire to the imperial palace!"
"This, this..."
Although he had some premonition, Huangfu Song still found it hard to believe.
"General Digong, since you knew His Majesty had passed away, why did you let those noble families leave?"
"Why wouldn't I let them go?"
Hearing Huangfu Song's question, Zhang Bao was taken aback and instinctively retorted:
"Those left in the city are just a bunch of old men, not their entire families.
"If I didn't let them leave, or if I killed them directly, wouldn't the scions of the noble families outside go berserk?"
"Besides..."
"Letting go of a few old men who are half-dead to easily take this Luoyang City and countless gold and silver treasures, why wouldn't I do it?"
"..."
Facing Zhang Bao's righteous explanation, Huangfu Song was completely stunned.
Just this?
Just for this?
You let all the noble families go just for a little bit of money and fear of reprisal?
Damn it!
Where was your brain?!
Even if you let them go now, wouldn't they still target you after they returned?
He was dreaming!
If those few old men were still in hand, they might have been somewhat hesitant to act.
But now?
As soon as those people regroup with Yuan Wei and the others, they would start plotting how to eliminate you, wouldn't they?
As for the gold and silver treasures?
As long as you kept those noble families within the city, the gold and silver treasures would still be yours, wouldn't they?
"Ah?"
Listening to Huangfu Song's string of rhetorical questions, Zhang Bao's face was filled with confusion.
It, it could be like this?
It seemed to make some sense, didn't it?
If those old men were kept within the city, it would indeed be a threat to the scions of the noble families?
And,
If even the members of the noble families couldn't escape, would their wealth just fly away?
"Damn it!"
Zhang Bao instinctively slapped himself. The confusion on his face turned into regret.
How could he have been blinded by greed?
He only saw those carriages filled with gold, silver, and jade, but he overlooked the old men inside the carriages.
They were the most valuable!
Huh?
Wait!
Thinking of the purpose of Huangfu Song's visit this time, Zhang Bao looked at him with a glimmer of hope.
"General Huangfu, since you've brought it up, do you have a solution?"
"There is a solution!"
Seeing that Zhang Bao had understood his intention, Huangfu Song didn't dawdle and said directly:
"Those people haven't gone far yet, and they only have twenty to thirty thousand guards. That's not a lot for your Yellow Turban Army, which numbers in the hundreds of thousands, is it?"
"Hmm..."
As Huangfu Song's words fell, Zhang Bao instinctively narrowed his eyes.
He wasn't an idiot!
Although Huangfu Song spoke logically, who knew if he was genuinely thinking of him or trying to lure them into an ambush to annihilate them?
After all,
The allied forces for reinforcing the emperor also had a considerable number of troops. If they occupied advantageous terrain, the Yellow Turban Army might not be their match.
Because they still needed to leave people to guard the city!
They couldn't possibly go and suppress the noble families and then hand over Luoyang City, which they had finally captured, could they?
If they didn't send everyone?
The allied forces for reinforcing the emperor had over two hundred thousand troops. If they sent too few, they would be like lambs to the slaughter!
So,
Facing Huangfu Song's seemingly well-intentioned reminder, what should he do now?