In the end, only twenty-eight retainers were willing to leave with Zhao Dian. Out of the ninety-four retainers who survived up to this point, which doesn't include Ji Ping and his group, less than a quarter were willing to leave with Zhao Dian.
Zhao Dian didn't say anything, and after receiving the allocated dry rations, he bid farewell to Zhao Hanzhang early the next morning.
Of course, Zhao Hanzhang wouldn't let him return just like that. Not only did she write an emotionally rich letter for him to deliver to Zhao Zhongyu, but she also collaborated with Fu Tinghan to write a letter to Fu Zhi, explaining their plans.
The farther they went from Luoyang, the calmer the chaos became. Although there were many mountain bandits along the way, Zhao Hanzhang brought along quite a few retainers, and with refugees following them, ordinary bandits wouldn't trouble them.
