I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1054 Surrender to Han
"I've placed this opportunity here for you. Whether you can seize it or not depends on your own fate."

On his way back to report, Anmoti's mind was filled with Su Yao's words, and his legs felt like they were made of lead.

His fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly, his palms sweating profusely.

“Acting Governor…” These four words were like a red-hot branding iron, making his heart tremble.

It should be noted that the Parthian Empire was still a slave-owning empire. For someone like him, without a powerful family background, even the gatekeeper of the Suren family could boss him around.

I remember last winter, he waited in the snow for three hours to deliver a piece of military intelligence to Bahram, his feet chapped from the cold, only to be told in return that he was "useless".
Anmoti's entourage slowly made its way toward the governor's mansion. Along the way, he glanced at the narrow alleyway beside the road, where several beggars were huddled against the walls, so thin that they were nothing but skin and bones.

Anmoti suddenly remembered that when he was a child, his father had also taken him to beg on the streets in the same way until the steward of the Suren family took a liking to him and took him in as a servant, and that's how they barely survived.

At the time, he thought he had grasped a lifeline, only to later realize that he had merely jumped from one mud pit into an even deeper one.
When he relied on his own efforts, risking his life to travel to countless places with the Suren family's caravan, and finally earned enough money to redeem his freedom, he found that his so-called freedom was utterly worthless in the face of the power of the large family.

He could never forget the contemptuous look that old man gave him when he pulled out an account book that even recorded the bowl of goat's milk his daughter drank when she was born. He told him how luxurious this gift of freedom was and that he would have to continue to work for the Suren family, or they would have plenty of ways to make him disappear.

Anmoti had no doubt about the truth of this statement.

The so-called freedom of redemption is nothing but a fleeting illusion.

How could the Suren family easily let go of a slave they had carefully trained? Especially after this slave had demonstrated an even more unexpected talent for making money?

In the days that followed, he lived in an even more intricate shackle. The Suren family had given him a respectable status, but they also held his Achilles' heel—his frail daughter was still receiving an education under the family's protection, a favor in name only, but in reality, a hostage. He was required to hand over half of his income each month, euphemistically called a "gratitude fee." If he was even slightly late, the steward would come to his door with servants to "remind" him, his eyes always lingering on his daughter.

If it weren't for the Parthian king sending multiple envoys on this mission, and his good fortune in finding the Han army's king in Kushania, he would probably have lived in the shadow of the Suren family for the rest of his life.

But now, that great conqueror who came from the distant East, the Great Qin, who trampled through the Kushan Empire and easily defeated their 50,000-strong Parthian army, actually wants to make him the lord of a city.
"What's wrong, sir? Why do you look so pale?"

The accompanying attendant asked nervously, "Could it be that those soldiers outside are not satisfied with the gifts we brought?"

Anmoti snapped back to reality, forcing a stiff smile. "It's nothing, the Han army is very satisfied. It's just that the Tang king is impatient and is urging us to complete the surrender ceremony within three days, or he will attack the city."

This statement, being half true and half false, perfectly explains his flustered expression.

The attendant breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, as long as they don't act immediately."

Anmoti didn't reply, and continued on his way in the carriage, lost in thought.

The magnificent gates of the governor's mansion were already faintly visible, with the Suren family's flag flying high. Secretary Shapur and General Bahram, among others, should be inside waiting for his news.

"Wait a minute, let's go back to the manor first. I left something at home," Anmoti suddenly said.

The servant hesitated: "Well, the adults are all waiting, I'm afraid this isn't a good idea."

“It’s alright,” Anmoti’s voice suddenly turned deep, carrying an unquestionable authority, “It’s just a short delay. I will explain to Lord Shapur later.”

The attendant was startled by the fleeting ruthlessness in his eyes and dared not offer any further advice. He quickly turned his horse around and rode towards an inconspicuous house in the city. When he arrived at the gate and pushed open the creaking wooden door, he felt a bitter smile creep down his face.

As an outsider, this house was certainly not his home, but he actually had another residence in Mulu City—a house he had acquired through years of business dealings.

Unfortunately, when the Parthian army entered Mulu, he not only gained no benefit, but his carefully cultivated network behind enemy lines was also taken over by his own family. Even his hard-earned family property was immediately requisitioned by the Suren family. To settle the important figures, they gave him some loose change as a token of their gratitude for his contributions to the family over the years.

"Master, why are you back?"

The old servant guarding the gate cried out in surprise, but was immediately pushed aside by Anmoti, who shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Where are the lady and young lady? Quickly, bring them to me."

The old servant was startled by his anxious and agitated appearance and hurriedly called inside to report the news.

A moment later, a woman in a faded linen dress hurried out, leading a thin girl. It was Tima, Anmoti's wife, and their daughter, Sasha. Tima was still clutching half of an unfinished wool blanket in her hand. Seeing Anmoti standing in the courtyard with a livid face, she quickly shielded Sasha behind her: "Master, what happened?"

Sasha timidly peeked out, her little face still showing signs of illness; the cold she had caught last year had left her not fully recovered. She looked at Anmoti and whispered, "Daddy," her voice barely audible.

Anmoti's heart clenched. He quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and held his daughter's cold little hand, his fingertips stroking her thin wrist—the child had been frail since childhood, and every time the Suren family's steward came to "visit," he would say in a sarcastic tone, "Secretary An is truly blessed; his daughter is as precious as a princess."

He wasn't stupid; he naturally understood that the man's words were a reminder that the child's life was in the family's hands, and that he shouldn't think he could fly solo just because he'd grown wings.

"Tima, pack your things and leave immediately." Anmoti's voice was very low, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "Take Sasha to the blacksmith shop in the west of the city, find Tiernan, and tell him that 'the silk should be returned.'"

Tima's expression changed drastically: "Master, what's wrong? Is it... is the Suren family going to make things difficult for us again?"

"Don't ask!" Anmoti grabbed his wife's arm suddenly, so hard that she winced in pain. "Remember, once we get to the blacksmith's shop, no matter what noise you hear, don't come out. Wait for me to come and get you."

After arranging things for his wife and daughters, he immediately summoned several servants and his trusted confidants, whispering instructions to them to purchase and prepare various supplies and weapons, so that they could obey his orders that night.

At this point, Anmoti finally made up his mind – he was going to surrender to the Han!
Clearly, given the current situation, no matter what he does, the Han army will definitely break through the city.

Therefore, what he needs to do cannot simply be to open the city gate; otherwise, what difference would it make whether the Holy Lord has him or not?
He had to let the Han army sneak into the city without alerting those important figures, and capture them all in one fell swoop, only then could he demonstrate his value as Anmoti.

Ideally, the city gates should be sealed during this period, so that the change of control of Mulu City can be done without anyone knowing.
This was precisely the final task that Su Yao entrusted to Anmoti.

They couldn't have accomplished this independently without this mole.

After all, the Han army was not large enough to completely besiege the city. Given the Parthians' current cowardly state, they would probably run away as soon as the city was attacked.

Time was of the essence, and Su Yao had no time to continue playing hide-and-seek with that so-called lion guy and delay the mission.

"Why did it take you so long to get back? What did you talk about with that Han general? Where did you run off to on the way here?"

Soon after, Anmoti hurriedly entered the governor's mansion, and before he could even begin to report, he was met with a barrage of questions from Bahram.

(End of this chapter)