It was naturally anticipated by Zhang Bao and the others that someone might attempt to break out of Luoyang city.
As before!
Regardless!
He didn't care who these people were or where they were going; all he wanted was Luoyang city!
But there was one thing!
If you're leaving, at least leave the money behind, right?
And you want to take both people and wealth?
Dream on!
Therefore,
When Zhang Bao saw Yuan Wei and the others breaking out with their convoy, his eyes began to redden.
"Surround them!"
"Hurry!"
"Don't worry about the people breaking out; leave all the carriages to me!"
"Yes!"
The personal guards, having received the order, became excited and, with the reserve troops, moved to surround them.
This was the kind of task they loved the most!
After all, those carriages clearly looked like they were transporting treasures. Once they were intercepted, who would have the final say on what happened to them?
Even if they pocketed a little, Zhang Bao wouldn't pursue it too harshly.
As long as the main portion wasn't touched!
Although the Zhang brothers hadn't received formal military training, they all understood one principle... money was meant to be shared!
If you hog it all yourself?
No problem!
Once or twice, people wouldn't complain. But anymore than that, it wouldn't do.
Why?
The money we worked so hard and fought so hard for, and you leave none for us?
That's a bit too much.
So,
It was only after Zhang Bao discovered that those people were carrying treasures that he ordered his men to move in.
He believed that,
Even for the sake of the treasures about to fall into their hands, his brothers wouldn't let those people get away easily.
And that was indeed the case!
Facing the fleeing, dispirited defenders, the ferocity of the Yellow Turban rebels was fully displayed.
In an instant,
More than half of the more than five thousand defenders escorting the noble families' convoy were slaughtered by the Yellow Turban rebels, who outnumbered them.
Within the noble families' convoy,
As they witnessed the unfolding events, the faces of several family patriarchs turned ashen.
"H-how could this happen?"
"Why?!"
"Even His Majesty's convoy wasn't stopped when they left the city; why are they stopping ours?"
"..."
Listening to the desperate cries of the family patriarchs beside him, Yuan Wei and Yang Ci exchanged glances and said almost in unison:
"The treasures?"
"Gold and silver?"
"..."
The two, having instantly reached a consensus, had a flicker of heartache in their eyes.
That was no small amount of money!
To say nothing of other valuables,
There were more than a dozen carriages filled with gold alone, let alone the silver and jewelry.
They had thought that the Yellow Turban rebels were only focused on Luoyang and would, like they did with Emperor Ling, simply let them leave.
But now, it seemed,
They had thought too much!
The reason they let His Majesty and his entourage leave earlier was likely because they were only taking people.
But them?
They not only wanted to leave with people but also to take the wealth they had accumulated over the years.
That was not going to fly!
Listening to the intermittent screams from outside the carriages, Yuan Wei sighed deeply.
"Alas~!"
"Tell them to abandon the supplies. Survival is the most important thing now!"
"What?!"
Hearing Yuan Wei's words, the patriarchs who had been wailing moments ago exclaimed in shock.
"Lord Yuan, you can't be serious, can you? That's our life's fortune!"
"Then what do you suggest?"
Yuan Wei, already in a bad mood, looked up and gave him a cold glance.
"If you can't bear to part with those treasures, I don't mind if you go guard them yourself, but you cannot drag us down!"
"We still want to live!"
"Indeed!"
Yang Ci, who had also figured out the crux of the problem, echoed with a wry smile,
"Gold and silver can be earned back, but what if life is lost?"
"..."
As Yang Ci finished speaking, the patriarchs who had been clamoring fell silent.
That's right!
If the gold and silver were lost, they could find other ways to earn it back.
But if life was lost?
Putting aside the glory and wealth, they might even have their families annexed.
Thinking of this,
The patriarchs who had been eager to get out of their carriages now retreated.
Seeing this,
Yuan Wei showed no surprise. He lifted the carriage curtain and said to the old steward guarding outside,
"Pass down the order: abandon the supplies and push through with all our might!"
"Yes!"
The old steward, who already felt the supplies were a burden, was overjoyed and went to relay the order.
He also played a little trick.
Instead of directly finding the responsible parties, he had his household retainers shout the order along with him.
Soon,
The battlefield echoed with repeated cries to abandon the supplies and break through with all their might.
This not only delighted the defending soldiers.
Even the Yellow Turban rebels who had come to intercept momentarily slowed their assault.
After all,
Wasn't it precisely for those supplies that they had been so eagerly surrounding them?
As for killing people?
What was the point?
Although the Yellow Turban rebels gained some benefits from killing enemies, it wasn't to the point of promotion based on the number of heads.
Or rather,
The management within the Yellow Turban army was extremely chaotic. Leaders, in addition to outstanding martial prowess, also had to maintain good relationships with the subcommanders.
Of course!
If you could kill over a hundred enemies in a single battle, you could also be promoted to a minor leader.
But who could achieve that?
Therefore,
The Yellow Turban army didn't have promotion tasks like the regular army; it was all about what you could get your hands on.
Thus,
When the defending forces prepared to abandon their supplies and break out, the Yellow Turban rebels subconsciously made way.
Go!
Hurry up and go!
As long as you don't take our brothers' money, we don't care how many of you leave!
Seeing this,
The old steward was overjoyed and quickly urged the defending soldiers to escape.
And the Yellow Turban rebels acted as if they didn't see them, their eyes fixed on the carriages behind them.
As long as the carriages filled with supplies didn't move, they would let these people pass.
Fortunately,
The carriages carrying Yuan Wei and his group were not stopped, but they were thoroughly searched by the Yellow Turban rebels.
They had completely dropped their pretense.
You can leave.
But leave your things behind!
Of course!
It wasn't that some Yellow Turban rebels didn't want to kill these people, but they were stopped by their commanders.
Nonsense!
They were essentially profiting from both sides now. How could they let their benefactors be killed?
Don't forget,
These noble families had nothing but money. They were hoping to extort more next time.
In this regard,
Although the lower-ranking Yellow Turban rebels were unhappy, they looked at Luoyang city in the distance...
Forget it!
As long as they could take Luoyang, and the world changed, these things were secondary.
Weren't there plenty of scoundrels in the city?
They could kill a few more in the city to vent their anger, and it wouldn't be a big deal.
And so,
Under the tacit understanding between the Yellow Turban commanders and the noble families, Yuan Wei and his group finally broke out.
But they suffered heavy losses!
Not only did they fail to bring out the wealth they had accumulated over the years, but neither did the books they considered treasures.
Although there were transcriptions in their Ruyuan hometown, these were the original manuscripts!
Their value was immeasurable!
"Hoo~!"
Yuan Wei exhaled deeply, forcing himself not to think about these things anymore.
"Someone!"
"Send out scouts to find where the Reinforcement Army is, and we'll go find them!"
"Yes!"
The old steward, having received the order, couldn't afford to rest and busied himself with arranging the scouts.
Meanwhile,
After Yuan Wei and his group broke out with the remaining defenders, Luoyang was almost undefended.
It didn't take much effort,
The city gates of Luoyang were breached, and the remaining defenders either surrendered or committed suicide.
In any case,
By the time Zhang Bao and his men took over Luoyang, there wasn't a single government soldier left in the entire city.
Although it was late at night, Zhang Bao and his men walked through the streets of Luoyang swaggeringly, holding bright torches.
"Hahahaha..."
"Luoyang?"
"It's nothing special after all?"
Looking at the houses hidden in the night on both sides, Zhang Bao felt a sense of accomplishment.
He!
Zhang Bao!
With his elder brother's disapproval and his third brother's incompetence, he had overthrown the Han dynasty!
Wasn't he amazing?
Wasn't he formidable?
Would he be recorded in history books by later generations and be called His Majesty?
Uh?
Perhaps not!
Thinking of his elder brother's prestige in the army, a shadow flickered in Zhang Bao's eyes.
After all,
Whether in the Han dynasty or among the Yellow Turban army, there was only one leader.
That was the Heavenly General Zhang Jiao!
If anyone were to ascend the throne, it would be his elder brother Zhang Jiao!
It seemed like there was nothing for him?
How could that be!
This Luoyang was taken by him, leading his brothers, with great effort!
Was he just going to give it to his elder brother like this?
Thinking of his elder brother, who was far away in Jizhou, Zhang Bao's mood became somewhat complicated.
Honestly!
His elder brother Zhang Jiao had fulfilled his responsibility as an elder brother to both him and his third brother.
But this was the imperial throne!
The position of supreme ruler!
Once one sat on this seat, the entire world would be under his sole command!
How could this not drive Zhang Bao mad?
Fortunately!
Perhaps it was the long-standing authority of his elder brother, or perhaps he was considering other factors.
After an internal struggle, Zhang Bao gritted his teeth and ordered,
"Send someone to relay a message to my elder brother and third brother, telling them that I, I have captured Eastern Capital Luoyang, and they should come quickly to discuss important matters!"
"Yes!"
The personal guards, having received the order, could not fathom Zhang Bao's conflicted feelings.
After turning to leave,
They called over a few skilled riders and gave them separate orders.
Soon,
Several warhorses disappeared into the night, speeding away from Luoyang towards Hulao Pass and Jizhou.
After making this decision, Zhang Bao let out a long sigh of relief.
He knew very well that,
Once his elder brother and third brother arrived, the imperial throne would essentially be out of his reach.
But he had no regrets!
Who told him that his elder brother had raised him since childhood and taught him the principles of life?
There were too many temptations in this world!
Besides the imperial throne, perhaps there were all sorts of other temptations that would plague him.
But so what?
To be tempted when faced with temptation was instinct, but to suppress that temptation was a skill!
He did not deny.
When an imperial throne was placed before him, he felt an impulse to seize it at all costs.
And he also believed that,
If he wanted to ascend the throne and become emperor in Luoyang, the brothers beside him would definitely support him.
Because it was time for rewards based on merit!
But Zhang Bao still suppressed that impulse and chose to discuss it with his brothers.
What?
You say I'm afraid of Ye Feng, that rebel?
Pah!
Do you know you'll get beaten for saying that? Can't you see without saying it out loud?