My Father in Law is Lu Bu

Chapter 696

Zhang Zhao, Sun Quan and the rest passed through the checkpoint without any danger. There were no soldiers who were blocking the city gate. Once they pass through, they would be free like birds. When Zhang Zhao first came to Jiangdong, he had also come empty handed.

“So what if it is Sun Ce and Lu Su? They are just scoundrels. Go chase me from the South gate! I will return one day!” Zhang Zhao stopped for a moment to say. He was about to turn and leave when a group of soldier suddenly appeared. “Orders from Minister Lu! The East and West gates will be closed. The common people cannot leave and all those who just left must come back!”

“Not good!” Zhang Zhao started to panic. He underestimated Lu Su. Zhang Zhao was not afraid of the gates closing but he was afraid of the common people being pursued.

There was no way these common people could outrun horses with their own two legs.

The gates were quickly blocked with troops and the people who had already left were either ordered to return or pursued with horses if they were too far away.

“Master Zhang. What should we do now?” Sun Quan was also panicking. If they were all screened one by one, they can all forget about escaping.

“Milord. There is no need to panic.” Zhang Zhao calmed himself down. He was really capable to remain calm even at this time.

“Zhang Da. Zhang Er. Go to the crowd and tell them that Lu Su and Sun Ce intends to settle accounts with us. All the people who fought at the city walls would be arrested and executed. They are arresting people now. Go!” Zhang Zhao said to his two servants.

“Understood!” Zhang Da and Zhang Er nodded and left.

“What is going on. Why don't you let us go home?”

“Yes! The battle is over! Let us go home! We don't want to stay in this city anymore!” The people were talking. Some were worried, some were terrified. These people had been forcibly captured by Sun Quan but now that Sun Quan was defeated, the people who wanted to leave were driven back in.

Zhang Da and Zhang Er squeezed into the group and began to incite the people.

“I heard that General Sun Ce wants to settle accounts!” Zhang Da spoke first.

“Settle accounts?” The others could not understand. The war had trapped them in. With no more war, they should be allowed to leave.

“Haha! You all think too highly of Marquis Wu!” Zhang Da sneered. “All of you fought on the walls and killed Marquis Wu's men. How can he not want to settle accounts with you?”

“We were forced to! Sun Quan forced us to!” One civillian replied.

“Even so, you still killed!”

The expression of all the civillians that surrendered quickly changed.

“I did not kill. I will be fine!” One of them rejoiced happily. He did not go on the walls at all.

“So what? Can you say that your relatives did not do so as well? Can you really say that? In the end, you are all traitors! Sun Ce must want to arrest and execute thousands of you to warn the rest!” Zhang Da did not say anything too drastic. If he had said that Sun Ce wanted to kill everyone, it would be unrealistic but killing a thousand people was still within reason.

Thousands of people would be executed. These civillians wondered if they would be one of them.

“What should we do?

“We may be chosen!”

Seeing the others panic, Zhang Da and Zhang Er sneered. “If you want to survive, there may be a way.”

“Brother. Tell us quickly!” One of them already treated Zhang Da and Zhang Er as their last hope.

“If you want to survive, just run.”

“But Sun Ce and the others told us to wait!” There were still those who hesitate.

“The law does not punish the masses. If everyone runs out, they would not be able to catch all of us!”

“That's right. The law does not punish the masses. Either way, staying would mean death. In that case, let us risk it!” Some of those who were forced to work for Sun Quan gritted his teeth. He was ready to fight. ŘÁ𝐍οʙЕṧ

Zhang Da and Zhang Er looked at each other and smiled. They have suceeded.

“What are you doing? Go back quickly! Did you not hear Minister Lu's orders? Everyone needs to go back to the city!” One soldier shouted.

The civillians looked at each other before they started to walk away from the city. The soldier frowned. He wanted to step forward and bring these civilians back in. But just as he was about to do so, two robust men quickly rushed out and restrained the soldier.

“You! What do you want to do?” The soldier was shocked.

“What do I want? Of course I want to kill you!” As he said that, one the man twisted the head of the soldier violently and broke his neck.

“These bold people dared to attack government troops?” The soldiers of Sun Ce's army saw this and quickly drew their swords.

“What are you waiting for? They want to settle accounts. If you go back, you will die. If you cannot rush out you will also die! In that case, fight!” Zhang Da and Zhang Er shouted loudly.

“Fight! Fight!” There were so many people. The soldiers were not able to react in time were rushed by the people. Many of those who had been following the soldiers return to Huiji also began to flee.

“Catch them! Catch them all!” The captain of Sun Ce's army was furious. These unruly people climbed the city to help the enemy when they were attacking. Now that the city has been breached, they dared to attack the soldiers. These people are courting death.

“Wait!” Just as the captain was about to start killing, he was stopped by Lu Su. Sun Ce went to the East gate while Lu Su went to the West gate. Lu Su frowned looking at the chaos but then he relaxed and even sneered.

“Zhang Zhao, you really revealed yourself!” Without this chaos, Lu Su would have had a hard time finding Zhang Zhao. This is because Lu Su only guessed that Zhang Zhao did not go through the tunnel. If Zhang Zhao had indeed gone through the tunnel, Lu Su would have no way of doing anything.

But this chaos confirmed Lu Su's suspicion. Zhang Zhao had come to the West gate. Lu Su stopped the captain for one reason. If he started killing people, it would be troublesome to regain their confidence.

Lu Su stood on a high ground and looked at the direction the groups of people were escaping. One group of people ran to the fields. These people had homes there and subconciously wanted to go home. Zhang Zhao was definitely not amongst them as Zhang Zhao would not want to stay in Jiangdong. A group of people went to the forest and mountains. These were mostly hunters who made a living by hunting or those familiar with the forests. Even young people was sometimes unable to endure the humidity there. Based on Zhang Zhao's personality, this was not a place he would go. The last group went towards the Yangtze River. These people wanted to leave by ship.

“Pass the order. Leave the groups of people escaping to the fields, forests and mountains go. All troops are to go and block the Yangtze River! No one is allowed to cross the river!”

“Understood!” The captain nodded and then quickly led a thousand men towards the river.

“Not good!” Zhang Zhao may have been on the run but he was also looking around. This sly fox saw a large group of soldiers ignoring the civillians escaping to the fields and forests to head straight towards the river. This meant that his whereabouts have been discovered.

“Master Zhang? If the troops block the river, we would not be able to leave!” Sun Quan also asked Zhang Zhao anxiously.

“It would be alright.” Zhang Zhao said after looking at Sun Quan. “Milord. We need to split up.”

“Split up?”

“Yes Milord. You are young. You can run into the forest and hide there. Wait until this blows over before coming out.” Zhang Zhao said to Sun Quan.

“What about you, Master Zhang?” Sun Quan asked doubtfully.

“I am an old man. I cannot go to the forest. I'd better go by river. If I can escape, I will. If I cannot, at the very least, I can buy you time. As long as you can escape, my efforts would not be in vain.” Zhang Zhao said to Sun Quan as though determined to be sacrificed.

“Master Zhang. Take care of yourself.” Sun Quan may have purple hair and blue eyes but he was cold hearted. Someone else like Liu Bei would be hypocritical but Sun Quan would not. Now they had to split up or they would both simply get caught together.

“Milord. You should also take care of yourself. Zhang Da, Zhang Er. Go and protect the Lord. Do not let him suffer any losses.” Zhang Zhao said firmly to the two family generals under his command.

“Understood.” Zhang Da and Zhang Er walked behind Sun Quan. Sun Quan also did not say anything. Since you, Zhang Zhao was ready to sacrifice himself, then give me these useful things.

Sun Quan left for the forest without looking back. He did not see the sneer in Zhang Zhao's eyes.

“Lord husband. Is it worth it? This General Zhendong…” Zhang Zhao's wife spoke up. This Sun Quan was such a jerk for abandoning them without even saying any words of comfort.

“Haha! Of course it is worth it. Why not?” Unexpectedly, Zhang Zhao laughed without getting angry.

“Alright, lets go. The ship is still waiting for us.” Zhang Zhao and the old woman continued to walk towards the river.

“Zhang Da and Zhang Er right? As long as I, Sun Quan, can escape, I will definitely bring you benefits!” Sun Quan promised hoping to win their hearts.

“Thank you, General Zhendong. But unfortunately, we cannot receive your benefits.” The two replied expressionlessly.

“What do you mean?” Sun Quan asked. He then saw that they were close to the forest. “Let's go.”

“We no longer need to run.” Zhang Da and Zhang Er said.

“Huh?” Sun Quan frowned thinking that they wanted to follow Zhang Zhao. “Master Zhang is buying time for us. He cannot escape.”

“No. Our Patriarch will escape.” The two smiled strangely.

Sun Quan was filled with doubts but he still headed towards the forest. But suddenly, he was caught by Zhang Da and Zhang Er.

“What are you doing? If you want to be buried together Zhang Zhao, feel free to do so! Do not get in my way!” Sun Quan shouted.

“Oh, we have every intention to be buried together!”

“Huh?” Sun Quan was confused for a moment before he realized what they meant.

“Sun Quan is over here!” The two men shouted.

“Are you two mad?” Sun Quan's eyes widened.

“We are not mad.” The two laughed. “General Zhendong. You and our Patriarch have the relationship of a ruler and his minister. Without our Patriarch, you would not be here. You may still be in prison. So our Patriarch needs a favor from you. That is for you to buy him time!”

Sun Quan wanted to run but he was restrained by the two men.

“Reporting to Minister Lu! Sun Quan is spotted at the forest.” One soldier reported.

“The Second Lord?” Lu Su who had been friends with Sun Quan did not call Sun Quan a traitor and still called him Second Lord.

“Yes!”

“Is this information reliable?”

“A few people who have seen Sun Quan before have confirmed it.” The soldier said to Lu Su.

“The Second Lord is at the forest?” Lu Su was shocked to think that they went to the forest instead of the river.

“What should we do now, Minister Lu?” The subordinate asked.

“Go to the forest!” Sun Quan's appearance at the forest confused Lu Su. He could not understand why Sun Quan was at the forest at all.

After pursuing for a while, he suddenly asked the soldier. “How did you find him?”

“Some civilians are the ones that found him.” Sun Ce's soldier replied.

Lu Su furrowed his brows. “How many of them altogether?”

“Three.”

“Three? Is Zhang Zhao there?” Lu Su could not figure out why an old man like Zhang Zhao wanted to go to the forest. Was Zhang Zhao suicidal? If that was the case, then Lu Su would feel happy. He would not need to even send troops and Zhang Zhao would die.

“We did not see Zhang Zhao! All three of them are healthy and robust men.” The soldier replied.

“What?” Lu Su was shocked. At this point, they were already almost at Sun Quan's location.

“Zhang Zhao! My good strategist Zhang Zhao!” Sun Quan finally understood why Zhang Zhao wanted him to go to the forest and even send Zhang Da and Zhang Er with him. All of this was to make Sun Quan a decoy so that Zhang Zhao himself could escape.

“Zhang Zhao! Since you are so heartless, then do not blame me! Zhang Zhao is at the river! He wants to escape by ferry!” Sun Quan suddenly shouted.

“Not good!” The shout came from both sides. Zhang Da and Zhang Er shouted this because Zhang Zhao's location has been revealed. They regret not knocking out Sun Quan earlier. Lu Su also shouted this because Zhang Zhao was escaping.

“Pass down my orders! A group of soldiers are to escort Sun Quan back to the city! The rest of you follow me!” Lu Su said before he quickly turned towards the Yangtze River.

Unfortunately, Lu Su was too late. A group of small ships have already set off. A ragged old man was on one of the small ships looking back. Though this old man was wearing tatttered clothes, he was none other than Zhang Zhao.

“Minister Lu! There is no need to see me off. I will be leaving now. Wait for me. We will be reunited one day.” Zhang Zhao who also saw Lu Su waved and sneered. These words sound like a farewell between friends but it was in fact a threat and a ridicule. He was saying that Lu Su could not catch him anyway and that he should prepare for Zhang Zhao's revenge.

Zhang Zhao was full of hatred for Lu Su. The Zhang Family was the number one noble family in Jiangdong but now all of it was gone and only a few people managed to escape. All of this happened because of Lu Su.

“Damn it!” Sun Ce finally arrived at this time. There was no trace of Zhang Zhao at the South gate and East gate. Though they managed to catch people from the Zhang Family, these were all the insignificant people. Hearing that Zhang Zhao appeared at the West gate, Sun Ce rushed over without stopping but Zhang Zhao still managed to get away.

“Master Zhang Zhao. The sky is wide so why become a thief? I do not know how long we will be apart but if we ever meet again, I will make sure you return to your roots.” Lu Su politely replied and even bowed. He was not angry even if he did not catch Zhang Zhao. Of course, it would not be like him to not say anything back. Lu Su had just threatened Zhang Zhao that if he ever comes back, he would be buried in Jiangdong.

“Hmph! Goodbye!” Zhang Zhao snorted and entered the cabin. The ship went further and further out of sight.

“Marquis Wu, do not be angry. Zhang Zhao may have escaped but we found the Second Lord.” Lu Su said to Sun Ce.

“Really?” Sun Ce was surprised for a moment. He had mixed feelings of surprise joy and even anger.

“Really.” Lu Su also saw Zhang Zhao easily abandon Sun Quan to save himself. It was truly pitiful.

“Lets go back to the city. The Second Lord should be waiting for Marquis Wu there.”

Zhang Zhao was gone so there was no longer any need to impose martial law at the East and West gates. Huiji was in a mess and there was not much food. So Lu Su gave an order for the people to help clean up the city. The corpses were either buried or burned. Everyone who helped out were also given food. So, Huiji was quickly cleaned up.