Whether in Qiangqu or Yufuluo, in their conventional thinking, the soldiers under their command were nothing more than livestock to earn wealth for them.
Most importantly, they had their eyes on the wives and children of the eight thousand soldiers. If they were taken as slaves, they could be exchanged for a lot of supplies, enough to make up for the losses this time.
Now, not only have they not gained any wealth, but they also have to spend money to redeem it, which they are naturally unwilling to do.
Zhang Huan then looked at Qiang Qu with a helpless expression, "Now that things have come to this, I have no better solution. Let's follow the old rules and simply compensate them for the losses caused by their looting before we can take them back. What does the Chanyu think?"
"Then how much compensation is required...?" Qiangqu asked cautiously.
Zhang Huan pretended to take out an account book and said while flipping through it, "Those deserters looted 40,000 shi of grain, killed 500 civilians, and 4,000 cattle and sheep along the way... The losses amount to 270 million coins!"
"so much......?"
Qiangqu couldn't help but let out a soft cry.
"Is this too much? In the eighth year of Yanxi, your Hunyu King rebelled, and four thousand cavalrymen plundered Shuofang, causing losses of up to 1.5 billion coins. This time, I have already calculated it to be very low..."
Zhang Huan looked at Qiang Qu with displeasure: "Those soldiers may be deserters, but they are still your people. The losses they caused cannot be borne by our Great Han!"
"But...but I don't have that much money!"
Qiangqu knew he was in the wrong, and looked at Zhang Huan with pleading eyes.
After a moment of silence, Zhang Huan looked at Lü Bu with a meaningful gaze and asked, "Fengxian, what do you think should be done with those deserters?"
Lu Bu thought for a moment, then said, "General, I believe that keeping those deserters as prisoners is a waste of food. Why not enslave them and have them repair the irrigation works and city walls of Bingzhou...?"
"This method is not appropriate. Eight thousand people are too many, and they are all young and strong. Our army will have to allocate troops to guard them. If we can't hold them and they escape, it will only harm the people. This will not work!"
Zhang Huan shook his head solemnly, rejecting Lü Bu's suggestion.
Lü Bu continued, "Then let's bring their wives and children here as well, and let them work for the Han Dynasty together. That way, they will be much more at ease!"
"Hmm, this method is not bad."
Zhang Huan nodded, then looked at Qiang Qu: "What does Qiang Qu Chanyu think?"
"this....."
Qiangqu hesitated for a moment.
He could disregard the eight thousand soldiers, but the number of their wives and children was considerable, and he was naturally unwilling to give them away to the Han Dynasty for nothing.
"General, I believe that since those men's wives and children did not plunder the Han people, we might as well buy them at the price of slaves."
As Yufuluo's elder brother, Lü Bu had no choice but to step forward and seek benefits for his younger brother.
Zhang Huan nodded slightly: "This method is feasible. I wonder what Qiangqu Chanyu thinks?"
"This method is excellent!!"
Qiangqu, beaming with joy, quickly agreed.
Yufuluo, standing to the side, also looked at Lü Bu with gratitude.
This older brother was definitely worth the effort...
Zhang Huan then said, "In that case, Qiangqu Chanyu, please go back first and send the families of those deserters here. We will discuss how to deal with Tanshihuai after the Emperor's decree is issued!"
"Then I shall take my leave!"
Qiang Qu and his son bowed to Zhang Huan in unison before leaving the tent.
"Bu, thank you for your protection, General!"
After Qiangqu and his son left, Lü Bu immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee facing Zhang Huan, and bowed to express his gratitude.
In fact, as soon as the Xianbei messenger entered the tent, Lü Bu realized that all of this was Zhang Huan's doing.
Because the messenger was one of his wolf riders, it's likely that the so-called message from Tan Shihuai was also forged by Zhang Huan.
"You are Zhen'er's brother, and I am Zhen'er's grandfather. If I cannot protect you, I'm afraid Zhen'er will hate me to the core!"
Seeing this, Zhang Huan shook his head helplessly, slowly walked to Lü Bu's side, and helped Lü Bu up while speaking, looking at the young Lü Bu with great affection.
Zhang Huan's words warmed Lü Bu's heart, and he immediately knelt down again, bowing deeply to Zhang Huan.
"After my parents were murdered, I thought I had no more attachments in the world. However, I was blessed by the heavens and was given Zhen'er, which brought me comfort. I am also grateful for the care I received from the general. If the general does not abandon me, I am willing to acknowledge the general as my grandfather!"
"Haha~, very good! Fengxian, please rise!"
Seeing that after all his hard work, Lü Bu had finally acknowledged him as his grandfather, Zhang Huan was overjoyed. Looking at the young and valiant Lü Bu, his old face beamed with joy.
Zhang Huan then pulled Lü Bu to the table, took a decree, and handed it to Lü Bu.
"Fengxian, the new recruit assessment for the Imperial Guard has begun this year. His Majesty has ordered you young officers to go to Luoyang for training!"
"Luoyang...?"
Lu Bu looked at the imperial edict in Zhang Huan's hand, his expression shifting, a hint of longing flashing in his eyes.
Zhang Huan nodded with a smile: "That's right! The journey to Luoyang will take a long time. Fengxian can take Yan Jin and Zhen'er with him. After all, it's not appropriate for the two girls to stay in the military camp all the time!"
Lü Bu nodded: "Grandfather is right, I will go and make the preparations now!"
"Alright! Go then, Gongren, you will set off together tomorrow!"
"Grandson takes his leave!"
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