"We greet General Zhao!"
Zhao Hao waved his hand, "We're all old acquaintances, no need for this formality. Someone, bring some tea! Let's sit down and talk about it."
Zhang Ning sat down first, then glanced at the two peasant-dressed commanders behind him.
"The general has given orders; are you going to disobey them?"
The two were taken aback, swallowed hard, and sat down tremblingly.
"General, I have come to visit you because I wish to ask..."
"To plead for mercy for those who commit all sorts of evil deeds, only knowing how to burn, kill, and plunder?"
Zhang Ning was taken aback, remained silent for a long time, took a sip of tea, and then slowly nodded.
“Indeed… Zhang Baiqi and Zuo Zizhangba, along with some of the Black Mountain chieftains, have committed numerous crimes. These people deserve to die, and I dare not plead for them. However… is it a bit too much to require their relatives and followers to serve five years of forced labor?”
This was the punishment Zhao Hao had previously established: anyone who committed crimes would be dealt with according to the circumstances; those who burned, killed, looted, or plundered would be beheaded at best, and their relatives and followers would be implicated at worst.
Therefore, the faction led by Zhang Baiqi of Heishan and Zuo Zizhangba, who opposed Zhao Hao's surrender, took the opportunity to invade Shangdang County after learning of Zhao Hao's northern expedition. They were captured and wiped out by the troops led by Wei Ran, with more than 20,000 dead and wounded and no less than 40,000 captured alive.
These 40,000 men were all strong and healthy, which naturally provided Zhao Hao with a large source of labor.
Therefore, Zhao Hao did not intend to agree to Zhang Ning's request.
But when Zhang Ning saw that Zhao Hao was unmoved, she actually stood up and took off her veil and hat.
After some time apart, Zhang Ning's hair had turned gray, and her skin had become sickly pale.
It was as if... he really was a dead person!
“I know that the general despises illegal villains, but most of the ringleaders have already been executed. If they continue to act in this way, how can they live up to what I told you that day, that we should bring peace to the people of the world?”
"Please, General, have pity on them; they were only acting under orders and didn't intend to do evil. Please show them mercy!"
...
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