Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 349 Facing Death (Part 1)

"You little brat! How dare you deceive me!" The white-haired Li was furious. Instead of backing down, she stepped forward and said, "I, Pei, am upright and honest. My loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon. Zhang's wolfish ambitions are known to all."

"Today I speak on behalf of the people of the North to condemn the Zhang family. You and your son have been exposed for your ambitions, and in your rage, you've even drawn your swords. Fine! Come and kill me! I'll be waiting right here!"

He continued talking as he moved forward.

The elite soldiers were also somewhat bewildered, and they all looked at their young master in unison.

This is how to do?
Wasn't this just meant to scare these old women? Are you really going to take action?

Zhang Yun was also in a difficult situation.

The old women of the Pei family surrounded the Zhang family's gate, shouting and cursing incessantly. The onlookers dared not get too close, but a glance revealed a dense, overwhelming crowd of heads. Among them were countless officials' servants and spies. The once high and mighty Zhang family had been utterly humiliated today.

Now Li is pressing him relentlessly. If he backs down, he'll be proven guilty and in the wrong. He refuses to believe that an old woman who can barely walk would dare to charge into a dangerous situation.

"Move them! Drive them away!" Zhang Yun shouted angrily.

Zhang's elite soldiers dared not disobey orders and pressed forward with their sharp blades, bracing themselves for the danger.

Then, Li rushed in and was pierced through the chest by a sharp blade.

A spray of blood splattered onto the face of the elite soldier holding the long sword, leaving him completely bewildered.

Lu and Fang, their eyes blazing with fury, rushed forward, their flesh and blood colliding with the sharp blade. There were no screams, no retreat; they simply splattered blood on the spot.

not good!

In a flash, Zhang Yun understood. This whole farce was a scheme orchestrated by the old women of the Pei family from beginning to end. They wanted to use their own lives to nail the Zhang family to the pillar of shame.

"Put away your weapons and retreat quickly!" Zhang Yun shouted, but it was too late. More old women rushed forward. The elite soldiers didn't have time to retreat, and before they could even swing their blades, the old women were killed one by one.

Pei Jia and the other guards went berserk, their eyes bloodshot as they drew their swords and charged forward to fight.

The Pei family army was renowned throughout the north, and no one dared to underestimate them. With gleaming longswords before them, they had no choice but to block. In an instant, a fierce battle erupted, silencing Zhang Yun's shouts.

The onlookers were horrified and screamed, "Murder!"

"The Zhang family has committed murder!"

"Run!"

Those on the inner layer frantically retreated, while those on the outer layer, unable to see clearly, struggled to push forward. In an instant, countless people screamed and cried out. Some slipped and fell, trampled by the crowd, their screams echoing. Children were separated from their parents, crying and begging for mercy.

"General, it's bad! There's a fight outside!" A Zhang family soldier rushed into the study with a pale face to deliver the message.

General Zhang, who had been furious, suddenly stood up, his face full of disbelief: "What did you say? I just asked you to scare them and drive them away, how did it turn into a killing spree?"

Zhang's personal guards were terrified and could barely speak: "It wasn't us who did it, they rushed over. It's hard to say now, many people died at the gate."

General Zhang, his face ashen, strode out.

The angry shouts of the Pei family guards echoed in their ears, and the terrified cries of the common people soared to the heavens. The blood of the Pei family's elderly women stained the area outside the Zhang family's gate.

General Zhang's temples throbbed uncontrollably, and blood rushed to his head.

"Stop!" General Zhang roared, "Stop!" But the scene was too chaotic; Pei Jia and his men were like madmen, hacking and slashing with bloodshot eyes. Many of Zhang's elite soldiers had already fallen, and Zhang Yun had also been slashed, half of his body covered in blood.

Whoever stops will be cut down. With life and death at stake, no one listens to what General Zhang is saying, and no one is willing to stop.

General Zhang drew his sword in anger. Having commanded the Bohai Navy in battles for over a decade, General Zhang was truly skilled; with a single strike, he felled one of the most fiercely charging warriors.

Pei Jia suddenly collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide open before he died.

General Zhang, without even glancing at who had been hacked to death, continued swinging his sword with a grim face. He had to stop the killing with killing, to quickly halt this mad farce.

They killed several people in succession, but failed to deter the Pei family's personal guards who had gone berserk. They watched helplessly as the Pei family's elderly women died at the Zhang family's doorstep, and watched Pei Jia be hacked to death. At this moment, their eyes were bloodshot. They had only one thought in their minds: to take someone down with them even in death.

General Zhang was also stabbed, and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his waist and abdomen.

General Zhang hadn't personally taken action or been injured for many years. He never imagined that one day, right at the Zhang family's doorstep, he would be forced into this situation.

Anger can cloud judgment, making people disregard the consequences. General Zhang roared, and the elite soldiers who had been hidden inside the door all rushed out.

Innocent civilians were also caught in the crossfire, unable to escape and dying under the blade.

This is hell on earth.

When Prime Minister Pang heard the devastating news, he could hardly believe his ears: "What did you say? General Zhang and his son killed the Pei family?"

The servant who brought the news was disheveled, having struggled to squeeze through the frenzied crowd. His clothes were torn, his shoes were missing, and his face bore several bloody scratches: "Yes, they've gone mad, and I don't know how many people have died. Things certainly won't end well today… Sir! Where are you going?"

Prime Minister Pang was furious: "Where else can we go? Of course, we'll send a message to Sixth Prince and have him lead the troops there!"

What use is this old man to the Zhang family? He wouldn't even be worth a single knife!

The servants quickly helped Prime Minister Pang up, calling for help. Several servants rushed over. One was ordered to go to the city gate to deliver a message to Meng Liulang. Another went to prepare a carriage, and Prime Minister Pang got into it: "To the palace! I must see the Emperor!"

The messenger from the Pang family hadn't gone far when he saw Meng Liulang leading his troops over with a somber expression.

Those who accompanied Meng Liulang were mostly veterans of the Beiping Army. There weren't many of them, about three or four hundred, each carrying a sharp blade and exuding a murderous aura.

The servant stumbled forward and quickly recounted the tragedy that had occurred at the Zhang family's doorstep.

Meng Liulang said coldly, "I understand! I'll be right there!"

Meng Liulang was extremely anxious, walking quickly until he started running. The veteran soldiers of the Beiping Army also ran alongside him, their hands firmly gripping their scabbards.

They were still a few streets away from the Zhang family's house when they couldn't run any further.

There were so many people, crying and running away, the chaos was indescribable.

"The general has killed someone!"

"Everyone, run!"

Meng Liulang was both anxious and furious. However, he knew that he couldn't afford to be hasty. The panicked and terrified people were like a camp thrown into chaos. At this critical moment, he had to guide them home as quickly as possible.

Meng Liulang shouted, "Don't run around! Go home immediately!"

(End of this chapter)