Inside the tent, Xu Rong, Ma Teng, Gongsun Zan, and others began to discuss the disposal of these prisoners.

Gongsun Zan advocated for the execution of all the prisoners. In his view, these more than 50,000 prisoners were all able-bodied men of Goguryeo. If they were killed, it would not only weaken the national strength of Goguryeo, but also better deter the Goguryeo garrison. At the same time, it would save food and reduce the pressure on the guards.

Most of the generals in the army agreed to Gongsun Zan's proposal, but it was opposed by Xu Rong, Ma Teng and others.

Xu Rong said in a deep voice, “Gentlemen, these 50,000 able-bodied prisoners represent 50,000 households in Goguryeo, nearly 300,000 people. If we kill them like this, it will surely make the Goguryeo people hate our Han Dynasty.”

This would further undermine His Majesty's plan to occupy and develop this area, which is extremely inappropriate.

Gongsun Zan frowned and said, "Then what should we do? They are all Goguryeo people. Will they stay obediently in the camp?"

Xu Rong said solemnly, "As the saying goes, we must use both kindness and force. Today's battle has already instilled fear in them of our Han army, so they probably won't dare to resist."

These able-bodied men are all ordinary people from Goguryeo. Like the people of Han, all they ask for is to have enough to eat. If we can provide them with enough to eat, they will surely be grateful.

"Hmph~, those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts. How can General Xu guarantee that they won't harbor ulterior motives?"

Xu Rong's explanation was clearly not enough to convince Gongsun Zan.

Xu Rong smiled and said, "Since I have said this, I am confident. You can just watch and see. If anything unexpected happens, you can take action then."

"Alright, then I'll wait and see!"

After saying this, Gongsun Zan stormed out of the tent.

Watching Gongsun Zan's departing figure, Xu Rong shook his head helplessly, then turned to look at Ma Teng beside him.

"Shoucheng, I'm leaving the matter of settling the prisoners to you. Also, send someone to inform the Left Chancellor of Goguryeo that we've allowed him to ransom these prisoners for 30,000 coins each."

Ma Teng nodded: "Please rest assured, General Xu."

After saying this, Ma Teng left the main tent and summoned all the political instructors who had accompanied the army together.

After careful deliberation, the 50,000 Goguryeo prisoners were divided into groups of 100 and gathered in the prisoner camp.

All the prisoners, their faces ashen and eyes blank, huddled to one side, awaiting the Han army's judgment.

At dusk, the Han soldiers collected all five thousand warhorses that had died or been seriously wounded on the battlefield, and began to cook water in pots to prepare to share them.

The aroma of meat wafting from the camp made the Goguryeo soldiers in the prisoner camp swallow hard.

Just then, more than a hundred political instructors sent by Ma Teng, leading several thousand soldiers, arrived at the prisoner-of-war camp carrying steaming hot boiled meat and flatbread.

All the prisoners stood up, looking at the approaching Han army with surprise and doubt.

A political instructor walking in front laughed and said:

"You need not be afraid. We are here on orders to bring you some food."

Several translators nearby loudly relayed the instructor's words to the group of prisoners.

Hearing the translator's words, the group of Goguryeo prisoners all stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the steaming meat and flatbread behind them.

The instructor smiled, then waved to the back and shouted, "Bring everything in!"

Soon, several thousand soldiers carried the food into the prisoner-of-war camp and placed it in front of each group of prisoners.

Upon seeing the food in front of them, the camp was filled with the sound of swallowing. Although the prisoners were starving, none of them dared to step forward to take the food.

Upon seeing this, the instructor immediately bent down, grabbed two pieces of horse meat, and brought them to one of the prisoners.

"Here, take this and eat it, it's not poisonous!"

As he spoke, the instructor picked up a piece, took a bite, and then handed the other piece to the prisoner.

Seeing the Han army instructor's appearance, the prisoner did not hesitate any longer, respectfully took the piece of meat, and began to eat it in large bites.

"Come on, everyone, come and eat!"

Seeing this, the Han soldiers around them also picked up boiled meat and flatbread and handed them to the prisoners.

Seeing the prisoners enjoying their meal, the instructors began to ask them various questions.

The instructor at the head of the group looked at the prisoners who were eating meat with gusto and asked with a laugh, "Can you speak Chinese?"

"Hmm... I know... but not many!"

The prisoner swallowed the food in his mouth and then nodded.

The instructor nodded: "Where do you live?"

“Xuantu… fifty li northeast…” the prisoner stammered.

The instructor smiled and said, "That's quite close to my Han Dynasty. Who else lives in your family? What do they do for a living?"

The prisoner said, "My parents...wife...children...usually rely on hunting and herding."

The instructor raised an eyebrow: "So, you're not one of their actual soldiers?"

"No, I... I was captured...!"

The prisoner shook his head, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes as he spoke.

The instructor then asked, "Do you know why our Han army has traveled thousands of miles to fight you here?"

"I don't know... Some people say you're here to kill us, to harm us, but I don't think so...!"

As the prisoner spoke, he picked up the food in his hand, took a bite, and in his eyes, the Han army had not only not killed them, but had also given them food, and were not as bad as their leader had said.

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