I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1055 A Humiliating Decision

"General, please calm down. I dare not delay military affairs, but those Han soldiers are really unreasonable!"

Clearly, Anmoti's team was full of spies from the Suren family. Whether it was his previous questioning by Su Yao during the battle or his recent last-minute change of plans to go home, it was impossible for them to miss it.

However, Anmoti was prepared for this. He immediately put on a troubled and fearful expression, like a chameleon, and hurriedly explained:

"Those Han soldiers weren't satisfied with their gains. They insisted that we select ten more noble ladies to serve as concubines for their deputy generals. They even said they wanted to see these women enter the camp with their own eyes, otherwise they wouldn't believe our sincerity!"

Anmoti wore a mournful expression, his knees trembling slightly; his acting was extremely realistic.

"The King of Han was extremely short-tempered. He personally interrogated us and, seeing that the women we sent were all distant relatives of Kushan noble families, said we had no sincerity in surrendering. Only after much pleading did he relent, promising to grant us two more days if we sent ten genuine Parthian princesses tonight."

"Outrageous!" Bahram slammed his fist on the table. "You want me to rest in peace? Those barbarians from the East don't deserve it!"

Anmoti stood with his head bowed, his voice trembling with tears: "General, please calm your anger! I had no choice! That Han general said that if we don't even have this much sincerity, he will come into the city tonight to take it himself."

"Bastard!"

Bahram's eyes blazed with fury, while Shapur frowned deeply: "Amoti, are you sure they only want women right now?"

"That's not possible."

Anmoti slapped his thigh: "They not only want the women, but also our maps and Yellow Books."

“What is this Yellow Book?” Shapur asked.

"I heard it's a register from the Qin Dynasty that records population, household registration, and taxes."

Anmoti explained, "We don't have this stuff around here. Tax collection is outsourced to you gentlemen. I explained to him for ages, but he just kept cursing and saying he needed a map and a woman first, and that it had to be delivered tonight no matter what."

“I just got home because I remembered there was an old map at home that I drew when I was with a caravan years ago. It doesn’t involve our defenses, so giving it to him won’t hurt.”

After saying this, Anmoti took out a yellowed sheepskin map from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "Please take a look, sir. This is the map I mentioned. It marks the surrounding towns and trade routes, which may be helpful for their military campaigns, but it contains absolutely no military secrets."

Bahram snatched the map and roughly unfolded it, prompting Shapur and the finance minister to quickly gather around. After examining it for a while, they saw that it indeed only contained some rough geographical markings and no indication of city defenses, and they breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"You've put your heart into it."

Shapur nodded: "Then the current problem is these ten Parthian noblewomen."

"This is not a good situation."

Chancellor of the Exchequer Denham's eyes darted around: "We just captured Murdoch, where would we find any Parthian noblewomen?"

"What's so difficult about this?"

Bahram snorted coldly: "Go to the market and find a few Khorasan women, dress them up in some nice clothes, and those Eastern barbarians won't be able to tell the difference between noble ladies and commoners."

"Oh no, absolutely not, absolutely not!"

Anmoti shook his head like a rattle drum:
"General, you are unaware of this. The King of Han has already conquered the Kushans, and many Kushan traitors are working for him. He attaches great importance to this matter. Perhaps the King cannot recognize the woman's true identity, but those Kushan dogs will certainly be able to see through her."

Anmoti's face showed a hint of fear: "We have already greatly displeased the king by using the Kushan noblewoman to deceive him today. If he finds out again tonight, I'm afraid we will be doomed."

A silence fell over the hall. The officials were speechless at Anmoti's words.

They knew the situation in the city all too well; if the Han army attacked, the city would surely fall.

They might be able to escape by chance, but the responsibility of losing Mulu and putting His Majesty in danger is one that no one can bear.

Bahram, in particular, had already suffered a defeat and desperately needed to atone for his mistake.

"Damn it." Bahram clenched his fist. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Lord Denham is absolutely right. Where are we supposed to find ten real Parthian noblewomen right now?"

Anmoti lowered his eyelids, his voice barely audible, "This humble one dares not speak presumptuously. However, among our army, there should still be some women from the native lands. For example, those from Taixifeng."

Bahram's expression changed drastically: "You dare to set your sights on His Majesty's concubines and the Prime Minister's niece?!"

This Parthian expedition was a grand affair, with the King of Kings leading the charge, so the scale of the campaign was naturally enormous.

He not only brought along two of the palace's most favored concubines and mistresses, but also several prominent officials with their families.

Bahram carried His Majesty out directly, precisely because he didn't want the blow to fall on his own side.

She is the niece of Prime Minister Suren, and also his daughter!

However, he was unaware that Anmoti's true purpose was to take the opportunity to make him bleed.

Seeing this once high and mighty general who had repeatedly humiliated and reprimanded him now like a trapped beast, desperate and powerless in the face of the mighty Han army, a strange sense of pleasure suddenly welled up in his heart.

Anmoti lowered his head, forcibly suppressing the urge to burst into laughter, and continued to explain humbly:
"General, please calm down."

"Even a petty person knows this is a last resort."

"But the Han army is pressing us hard, and we don't have much time left."

"I am willing to set an example by offering my wife and daughters. Please, esteemed officials, consider the greater good!"

Anmoti's words immediately silenced the hall.

General Bahram's face turned from red to green, then from green to black. He stared intently at Anmoti as if he wanted to devour him alive: "How dare your lowly family members compare themselves to us nobles?!"

Anmoti gritted his teeth and kowtowed repeatedly: "My wife and daughters are as lowly as dust, and dare not compare themselves with the families of you gentlemen. But right now we are in imminent danger. Once the Han army attacks the city, we will all perish. At that time, not only your families, but even you gentlemen will probably not be able to save your lives!"

"Enough!" Shapur suddenly spoke, interrupting Anmoti. The court secretary looked at Bahram with a grave expression and advised, "General, although Anmoti's words are crude, they are all reasonable. If Mulu falls, we will all be prisoners. What will become of our family's honor then?"

Bahram gasped, "What do you mean, sir?"

Shapur closed his eyes and slowly spoke: "Except for His Majesty's women, who cannot be touched, everyone else must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for the country."

hiss--

The high-ranking officials inside the room all gasped in shock.

(End of this chapter)