I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1052 Brutality and Weakness

Meanwhile, the Parthian leaders who remained in Merv quickly settled on this delaying tactic after discussing it amongst themselves.

Although Anmoti was apprehensive, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and prepare for his mission once again.

Immediately afterwards, cries of sorrow filled the city of Mulu.

In order to gather enough women and valuables for the Han soldiers outside, the Parthian soldiers showed no mercy to these newly conquered Kushans, finally tearing off their previous disguise as liberators.

They broke down doors from house to house, forcibly conscripting women and looting property, filling the city with cries of despair. Even the nobles, who kept their gates tightly shut, were brutally forced open by the soldiers, who also forcibly took away their women.

"Sir, please spare my daughter! She's only fourteen!" An old woman knelt on the ground, clinging tightly to Anmoti's legs.

Anmoti looked troubled, and was about to say something when he heard Bahram shout sternly from behind, "Drag him away! Anyone who delays military affairs will be killed without mercy!"

The soldiers roughly pulled the old woman away and dragged her daughter onto the prison van. The girl's piercing cries echoed through the street, but no one dared to stop them.

"My lord, this..." Anmoti turned his head away reluctantly.

Bahram sneered: "What? You still feel sorry for them? Don't forget, these people from Mullah are nothing but ungrateful bastards who have betrayed their ancestors and sided with the Kushans. It is their greatest honor to be able to dedicate themselves to the great cause of the King of Kings!"

Anmoti remained silent, only able to watch helplessly as the soldiers escorted the women of the city onto the carriages one by one.

Most of the women were disheveled, tears streaming down their faces, some even fainting from fright. They were roughly shackled, shoved into prison vans, and transported like cargo to the city square for assembly.

Meanwhile, the city's gold and silver treasures were looted. Parthian soldiers smashed up shops, warehouses, and even broke into temples, taking away everything of value.

In just one morning, the Parthian soldiers not only completed their mission efficiently but also lined their own pockets. The once bustling commercial center of Mulu was now a scene of devastation.

"Go, don't keep those Han soldiers waiting."

Before leaving, Bahram called out to Anmoti and gave him a fierce order: "Remember, if you dare to reveal even a little bit about the war situation in the north, I guarantee that your family will be completely wiped out from this land."

In the afternoon, at the appointed time, the gates of Mulu City were suddenly flung open.

The Han soldiers outside the city soon discovered to their astonishment that what came out was neither the Parthian king surrendering nor soldiers fighting to the death, but a group of envoys carrying white flags and carts full of jewels, grain and women.

This scene amazed the soldiers.

Throughout their westward expedition, they had seen many enemies who put up a stubborn resistance and fled in panic, but they had never seen anyone as spineless as the Parthians, who would leave such a large city unattended and offer money and women without even fighting.

"The general is mighty!"

Yufuluo and the other Xiongnu warriors laughed heartily: "With these Parthians willing to do the work, we're spared the trouble of being the villains ourselves."

Zhang Liao frowned and said, "General, the Parthians are so subservient to survive; I'm afraid they have other plans."

"It's nothing more than stalling for time," Su Yao said, pursing his lips.

"Delaying time?" Huvro scratched his head. "Could they possibly have reinforcements coming?"

As they were talking, Anmoti had already led his convoy to the front of the battle formation.

He dismounted, his face pale, and bowed: "Your Highness, the King of Tang, His Majesty has agreed to your terms. These are the first batch of tribute: five hundred taels of gold, three hundred fine horses, five cartloads of jewels, ten cartloads of grain and cloth, and thirty noble ladies and eight hundred common women from the city."

Su Yao glanced at the trembling women and suddenly asked, "Where are your Emperor and the 'Griffin'?"

Amoti's forehead was beaded with cold sweat, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is preparing for the surrender ceremony, which will take three days. These women and valuables are sent first as a sign of sincerity." "Oh, is that so?"

Su Yao remained noncommittal and said to those around him:
"Put the items away in the warehouse first, and make separate arrangements for the women. Take good care of them and don't let the soldiers cause any trouble."

Lu Su immediately accepted the order and led a group of accompanying civil officials to receive and inventory the supplies.

Seeing this, Anmoti felt somewhat relieved. After groaning slightly, he still suggested, "Your Majesty is merciful, but it is a blessing for these women to serve the Han army."

"His Majesty was worried that the heavenly soldiers had been waiting outside the city for several days and had grown bored, so he specially summoned the women from the city to entertain them. Your Majesty need not be too polite, so as not to disappoint His Majesty's good intentions."

After saying this, he clapped his hands, and immediately a group of richly dressed, weeping women got out of several cars.

Clearly, these were the thirty noble ladies he had just mentioned.

"Your Majesty, these women are all daughters of noble families in the city, possessing both beauty and talent. If you do not mind, why not choose some with the generals first, and have them serve you tonight?"

Su Yao frowned slightly as he looked at the women who were forced to kneel on the ground, trembling. A moment of disorientation flashed through his mind.

Did the Song Dynasty also harbor such thoughts in order to exchange women for peace?
But don't they realize that the more they do this, the more weak and vulnerable they appear in the eyes of the other side?

What if it were a more ruthless or greedy general?
Su Yao glanced at Yufuluo, who was eager to try, and shook his head with a smile:
“The King of Parthia’s intentions are kind, but while I appreciate the goodwill, I would like to discuss other matters with you now.”

After saying this, Su Yao told Lu Su to take all the women away, and then personally led Anmoti back to his tent to sit down.

“Anmoti, we’ve had a few dealings before, so we’re on good terms. That’s why I’m giving you another chance.”

After ordering someone to serve him tea, Su Yao calmly asked, "Tell me honestly, how is the war in the north going? Is the Parthian King not in the city?"

Anmoti's teacup clattered to the ground, splashing scalding tea that soaked his robes. His face was deathly pale, his lips trembling as he stammered, "Your Majesty...Your Majesty, what are you saying?"

"Now it's my turn to ask you questions and you answer them."

Su Yao took a sip of coarse tea, pursed his lips, and said, "Think carefully before you speak. If you give the wrong answer again, I bet you don't want to know the consequences."

Anmoti trembled all over, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He looked up and met Su Yao's sharp, hawk-like eyes, feeling a chill run from the soles of his feet up his spine.

"Me, me."

Just as he was stammering, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent.

"Report—!" A Kushan scout rushed in, shouting loudly, "General, urgent report from the north! General Ma Chao's troops encountered the main force of Parthia on the north bank of the Amu Darya River. The enemy has griffins to assist them, and our army has suffered heavy casualties!"

"What?!"

Zhang Liao and the others slammed their fists on the table and stood up, while Su Yao looked at Antimo with an unchanged expression: "Alright, it seems our envoy is not so lucky. You are no longer useful. Men, take him out and behead him."

"no, do not want!"

Anmoti was lifted up by two burly men, and then he shouted in a panic, "I confess, I confess everything, Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

"Oh?" Su Yao's lips curled into a smile. "Finally figured it out? Very well, let's see if there's anything else we don't know."

(End of this chapter)