My Father in Law is Lu Bu

Chapter 658

“Father! Where you going now?” Zuo Jie could not understand. Right now, his father was injured. He should be resting instead of going out.

“You want me to rest? This is an emergency! If we don’t do anything, we would suffer a catastrophe!” Zuo Li said as he struggled to get up. He grimaced from the pain as the blood from his buttocks flowed out.

“Men! Come and help Father and prepare a carriage!” Zuo Jie immediately got someone to prepare a carriage. Since his father was injured, a cushion was also prepared.

A servant quickly arrived with the prepared carriage. Zuo Li was about to get onto the carriage when he shook his head. “No. A carriage would be too conspicuous. Use an ox carriage covered with a shed.” Zuo Li said and after some time needed to change the carriage, he left.

“Father. Where are we going?” Zuo Jie still did not know why his father is acting like there was a disaster coming.

“We are going to Zhang’s residence.” Zuo Li said to his son.

“We are going to Ambassador Zhang’s residence? Father! That man is already leaving soon. Why are you going to him?”

“Ambassador Zhang cannot leave. If I am telling you to go there, then just do it! Don’t ask so many questions!” Zhang Zhao was already distressed so his son asking so many questions only irked him more.

Zhang Zhao’s residence was on the other side of the city so Zuo Li’s buttocks felt unbearably painful by the time he reached it. Fortunately, he was able to endure the pain. Zuo Li’s ox carriage went to the back gate instead of the front. Yet, there were many other rotten carriages at the back gate.

The Zuo Family entered the Zhang Family’s residence and found out that there was already a gathering there.

“Governor Zuo is also here! Governor Zuo, how is your injury?” A friend asked.

“It’s bad but I have no choice but to come!” Zuo Li replied bitterly.

“That Zhuge Jin is truly vicious. The Lord is deceived by such a nasty person to treat the Governor this way!” Several of Zuo Li’s friends said. They were united in their anger against a common foe.

Normally, Zuo Li would join in and grumbled about it but he was too distressed about something else to have the mood to do so.

“Where is Ambassador Zhang? I have something important to inform him about!” Zuo Li was anxious. At that moment, Zhang Zhao’s housekeeper appeared.

“Governor Zuo. Our Patriach invites you to the study.” The housekeeper said. He also called the other nobles present so they followed.

Everyone walked towards the study except for Zhang Zhao who was helped there. The moment they reached there, Zhang Zhao opened his mouth.

“Does everyone know about it already? Yangzhou’s envoy has arrived at Jiangdong.” Zhang Zhao said to the others.

Of course they knew. It was the reason they were here. However, these people remained silent. They all waited for Zhang Zhao to take the lead. In other words, they hoped for Zhang Zhao to do more for their own benefit. It would be even better if they could bring the Zhang Family down to their level.

Zhang Zhao snorted coldly in his heart. These people must be dreaming if they think they could obtain benefits without putting in any effort.

With a smile, Zhang Zhao said. “Good. He is here! With Yangzhou’s envoy here, we do not need to fight any more! Isn’t it good if we all work under His Majesty’s rule? It is a pity I do not have this fortune. I am going to be sent to Xudou!” Zhang Zhao said as though the matter did not concern him. He was already being sent to Xudou so this matter really did not concern the Zhang Family.

“Master Zhang! No! You cannot leave!” The others panicked when they saw that Zhang Zhao was going to do nothing. If the pillar of their group leaves, then they would no longer be able to work together.

Although it was true that Zhang Zhao’s absence would create a power vacuum for the nobles to exploit, it would become a huge problem if Yangzhou takes over Jiangdong. When Sun Ce conquered Jiangdong, he wiped out the Xu Family and the Yan Family. Even Liu Mang doesn’t go after them, it was unlikely that they would be given a bureaucratic position. So it was in all of their interest to ensure that their interest are protected.

“Master Zhang. The Lord has pulled Lu Zijing’s horse. Jiangdong will end soon. We cannot hand over Jiangdong to the butcher that killed countless nobles at Wancheng.” One noble said hatefully.

It was not surprising as Liu Mang started by killing when he entered Lujiang. Other rulers think twice about their actions but not Liu Mang. He did not think about it and no one dissuaded him either. Chen Gong was not by his side. The only ones by Liu Mang’s side were warriors. In Liu Mang’s opinion, if there are any threats, just eliminate it. That was why when Chen Gong came to Lujiang to stop Liu Mang, it was too late. All of the nobles were already wiped out.

Liu Mang’s reputation as a butcher had already been cemented. On top of that, the nobles at Lujiang and the nobles at Jiangdong have connection with each other. With so many of them dead, the nobles at Jiangdong also became enemies.

“No. His Highness is the Sage King. He would be benevolent.” Zhang Zhao replied with a smile. “Everyone does not have any enmity with His Highness so His Highness would not find trouble.”

Zhang Zhao’s words frightened the nobles. It was not words to console them because all of them had offended Liu Mang before. In other words, this was a threat. Zhang Zhao was telling them that the moment Liu Mang enters Jiangdong, they would be the first to die. After all, Jiangdong was already defeated but these nobles were still rich.

“Master Zhang! You cannot leave! What will happen to us if you leave?” The nobles panicked.

“But the Lord is already sending me to Xudou!” Zhang Zhao said as though he wanted to but could not help them.

“Master Zhang! You cannot go! You are our pillar! You are the hope of the Jiangdong nobles!” One of them said while gritting his teeth. “Let us go and request for the Lord not to chase you away! You are Jiangdong’s support!”

“It is no use! The Lord is now callous! No matter what you say, Sun Ce has already pulled the horse of Yangzhou’s envoy. Will he care about other things? Will he listen to the other nobles?”

“Then what should we do? Are we just going to wait for our deaths?” One terrified noble asked.

“Unless…!” Zhang Zhao suddenly said.

“Unless?” The nobles were overjoyed to hear Zhang Zhao’s words but they did not know what Zhang Zhao meant.

“Unless we change Lords.” Zuo Li said.

Zhang Zhao could not help but look at Zuo Li. He never thought highly of Zuo Li before this since he was Zuo Li’s superior. He also thought that Zuo Li was old and obstinate person. Now that he saw Zuo Li’s moment of intelligence, he realized that Zuo Li only appeared to be stupid on purpose.

“Change Lords?” The nobles were shocked. These were rebellious words. If Sun Ce were to hear these words they would be treated as rebels immediately. That was why all of them stopped to look at the windows.

“Don’t worry. This is my residence. The walls will not have ears.” Zhang Zhao laughed as he dispelled their concerns.

Changing Lords was a shocking plan for them. But they soon started scheming. To begin with, they were all vicious and greedy. They were only loyal to their own Family. To the others, they were only loyal if the other party could bring benefits to them. Otherwise, they would simply part ways.

That was why when a dynasty changes, it was never because the enemy was too strong. It was because there was a traitor by your side.

“But if we change Lords, who should become the new Lord? Are we going to allow the King of Shu Liu Mang to enter Jiangdong?” One person asked skeptically. If Liu Mang were to enter Jiangdong, it would also be changing Lords.

“Master Zhang. What about the Second Lord?” Zuo Li asked Zhang Zhao with a smile.