My Father in Law is Lu Bu-Chapter 676

The soldiers of the Jiangdong Army were all filling the Yangtze River with their tears. They have surrendered. How could they be in a good mood?

“Brother. The Lord has surrendered to Yangzhou. Will you follow him?” Ling Cao asked Lu Meng.

“Me? I would probably return to civilian life.” Lu Meng said bitterly. To a soldier, this is an option only when they become too old and needed to retire. Lu Meng who is at the prime of his life should be on the battlefield. But would Lu Meng even be allowed to surrender to Yangzhou after slaughtering several villages? Liu Mang would probably hate Lu Meng to the bone.

“What about you Ling Cao?” Lu Meng asked back. Ling Cao shook his head. He did not know what to do. The Ling Family was the Sun Family’s servants. He should be going wherever Sun Ce went. But the person who killed Ling Cao’s father1, Gan Ning, was now in Yangzhou’s service. Ling Cao was at a loss. He did not know what to do.

“Haha. Then you can accompany me on a fishing boat. We can fish on this river until we grow old.” Lu Meng patted Ling Cao’s shoulder as he said with a smile. Ling Cao who had no decisions of his own just nodded.

Lu Meng and Ling Cao were the lucky ones since they come from families who could eat their fill. Others who had to provide for their families would not have long until they began starving if they were to choose to retire from military service.

“Ambassador. Where would you be going?” Bu Lu asked Zhuge Jin but Zhuge Jin himself did not know where he was going. According to the rules of his family, he was not allowed to serve the same lord as his sibling. This is to ensure that the Zhuge Family would continue to survive regardless of whoever wins. But where is he supposed to go after leaving Jiangdong? Cao Cao? Cao Cao was indeed talented but Cao Cao already has many advisors and tacticians. It does not matter whether Zhuge Jin serves Cao Cao, there would be no difference at all. Zhuge Jin himself would also only end up as a small official.

“What about Brother Zishan?” Zhuge Jin asked Bu Lu. Bu Lu may not have as much working experience as Zhuge Jin but he was talented. As a result, he was compatible with Zhuge Jin.

“Me? I’ll be going to Yangzhou.” Bu Lu gave a straight reply as though there was no burden in leaving. This reply caused the other veterans to glare at him.

“Why are you all looking at me for? I have a clear conscience. All of you can return to your native homes or till a farm. Me? I have to support my mother and my little sister. What can a weak scholar like me do? Can I even till a farm with these weak arms? What’s more, Marquis Wu already surrendered. Is His Highness the King of Shu not good? He even made that recruitment order.”

Hearing Bu Lu’s words, Jiangdong’s generals began to calculate. The winners can already be seen as all the Lords were already in their respective positions. Cao Cao will conquer the North soon and he would naturally turn his attention South. Who else in the South could fight against Cao Cao?

Becoming part of Yangzhou may not be a bad thing. With the King of Shu and Jiangdong’s people, they may be able to fight against Cao Cao. On top of that, there was the recruitment order. Though this recruitment order offended the nobles, those from humble families had a good opinion of it. In Liu Mang’s words, anyone with talent can become high ranking officials. The nobles who were used to their special treatment did not like it. They could not accept such lowly people being on the same rank as them. But now, all the nobles were already brought away by Sun Quan. The only ones left here were the ones from humble families, and small uninfluential nobles that were Sun Quan did not even bother to look at.

These people all had confidence in themselves especially the small nobles. They could not accept that these influential people always got the high ranking positions. That was why their discontent with the nobles. Dynasties change when this kind of discontent grows too big.

As everyone have their own thoughts, they began to feel that Yangzhou was no longer so bad.

“Report!” Suddenly there was a shout.

“Reporting to General Lu! Ships have appeared on the Yangtze River!” The messenger said to Lu Meng.

“So quickly? How many ships are there?” Lu Meng asked.

“There are many!” The messenger replied.

“Haha. Has Yangzhou already sent people to recruit us?” Lu Meng smiled bitterly. A few other of the Jiangdong Army veterans did not speak. Huang Gai, Han Dang and a few others weren’t even present.

“Let’s go. Follow me out to surrender.” Lu Meng said to a few officials.

“Brother. If they come, let them come. We already surrendered anyway. Why must we go out and meet them?” Ling Cao did not understand. What business do they have with Yangzhou’s envoy?

“Ling Cao. You do not understand. We are going not because of Yangzhou’s envoy but because we cannot cause Marquis Wu to lose face. We cannot allow the Yangzhou Army to look down on us.” Lu Meng replied.

“That’s right. No matter what, we cannot allow Marquis Wu to lose face!” Zhuge Jin nodded. He wanted to show Yangzhou that they were not sore losers. Though they were defeated, they still had to show their pride or else Sun Ce would lose face.

“Men! Get the soldiers ready to receive the envoy from Yangzhou!” Lu Meng shouted.

“Understood!” At that moment, Lu Meng was already the backbone of the Jiangdong Army. Whatever he says, goes.

Lu Meng looked out at the river to see the ships carrying the Yangzhou Navy’s flag. It was Jiangdong that used to be the rulers of the Yangtze River but now, it was Yangzhou. Lu Meng looked back at their own outdated ships within the camp with a complicated feeling.

Jiangdong had white flags raised everywhere. Their gates were also open. The Yangzhou Navy quickly entered and docked.

“This Jiangdong’s guilty subject greets the envoy.” Jiangdong’s civil and military officials all greeted with respect. Some veterans were even in tears.

Ling Cao also paid his respects, albeit unwillingly. “Jiangdong’s guilty subject greets… greets…” Ling Cao’s eyes grew wide.

“Ling Cao? Quickly kneel!” Lu Meng saw Ling Cao’s reaction and furrowed his brows. Jiangdong was no longer under the control of Marquis Wu. If Yangzhou considers them a rebel, then Liu Mang would end up executing Ling Cao.

“Mi… Milord!” Ling Cao suddenly said.

“The Lord? The Lord is going to have a hard time defending himself!” Lu Meng could not help but feel depressed. Sun Ce went to Yangzhou. According to reason, there would not be a good ending. Even at best, Sun Ce would end up retired as part of a rich family and be humiliated.

“No! It is the Lord. Not that… sigh. Brother Lu Meng. Just quickly get up and take a look!” Ling Cao said incoherently but Lu Meng could see from Ling Cao’s reaction that Ling Cao was happy.

Lu Meng raised his head with curiosity and his eyes also grew wide. He almost became incoherent like Ling Cao. “Mi… Milord. You are back!”

“N.” Sun Ce nodded. The one that came down from the ship was Sun Ce.

Since Sun Ce was back, does that mean that they could not save the Grand Governor? Didn’t Sun Ce go to Yangzhou to beg Liu Mang to give Zhou Yu medical treatment?

“Marquis Wu. Where is the patient? Please guide me there quickly!” One old man said anxiously, as though he was more worried about Zhou Yu than Sun Ce.

“Lu Meng. Quickly dispatch someone to send Doctor Hua to Gongjin’s residence. Let Doctor Hua treat Gongjin.” Sun Ce gave his order to Lu Meng.

“Understood!” Lu Meng nodded. Soon a carriage brought Hua Tuo to Zhou Yu’s residence.

“We greet the Lord. We were incapable and allowed the Lord to be in danger.” Zhuge Jin and the others were pleased. Sun Ce has returned and Zhou Yu could be saved. Jiangdong could continue to exist in the future.

Only Bu Lu had different thoughts. While he was happy to see Sun Ce, his eyes looked towards the Yangzhou Army’s officer. The fact that it was Yangzhou’s ships and men that sent Sun Ce back to Jiangdong never left his mind.

“Haha. Everyone, quickly get up. I hope you all will not address me as your Lord in the future.” Sun Ce said to the officials.

“Hm?” Zhuge Jin was confused. Why not?

“Address me as ‘General’!” Sun Ce added.

“Where is Marquis Wu Sun Ce. Quickly kneel and receive the King of Shu’s edict.”

“Sun Ce Sun Bofu receives the edict.” Sun Ce suddenly knelt towards the Yangzhou officer.

“Milord? You mustn’t!” Zhuge Jin quickly stepped forward and tried to stop Sun Ce.

“I want to see who dares to make our Lord kneel!” Ling Cao took out his sword.

Yangzhou’s officer simply sneered at Ling Cao and looked back at Sun Ce.

“Ling Cao. Withdraw.” Sun Ce said towards Ling Cao before repeating himself. “Sun Ce Sun Bofu receives the edict.”

The officer then began to speak. He first led with Sun Ce’s father Sun Jian. In the edict, it is said that Sun Jian was a loyal minister who made great contributions. Unfortunately, Sun Jian was killed by a villain. Sun Jian was given the posthumous title Zhongwu (Loyal martial).

This was Liu Mang buying people’s hearts. He even gave Sun Jian the posthumous title of Zhongwu. This was meaningful because Liu Biao killed Sun Jian using the excuse of treason. Sun Jian had the Imperial Seal at that time so he could say Sun Jian wanted to become independent and was a traitor. Now, Liu Mang gave Sun Jian the posthumous title of Zhongwu, making Sun Jian ‘loyal’. This was to show Sun Ce that his father is now recognized as a loyal official. On top of that, it was a slap in Liu Biao’s face. If Sun Jian who was killed by Liu Biao is loyal. Then Liu Biao is the rebel.

Whether Sun Jian was actually loyal was none of Liu Mang’s concerns. He won’t care even if a dead person was crowned Emperor. Besides that, Sun Jian was also now his father-in-law.

On the other hand, Sun Ce had always wanted to clean his father’s name. This was originally all he cared about. In the past, he wrote a letter to the Imperial Court asking for his father’s bad name to be rectified. Liu Biao was the Emperor’s uncle so it would be a slap in the face it this were to happen. On the other hand, Cao Cao believed that allowing Sun Jian’s name to be rectified would only be helping Sun Ce to become arrogant.

That was why when Lu Bu came to Lujiang, Sun Ce asked Lu Bu about his opinion towards Sun Jian. Lu Bu answered that a great star as fallen. Now, Liu Mang gave Sun Ce what he wanted.

The edict then focused on Sun Ce. Sun Ce Sun Bofu is a loyal officer who defended Jiangdong but now there is a villain in Jiangdong. Sun Ce will be given the title of General Ba and is ordered to pacify Jiangdong. The title of General Ba was just like a nickname title that Liu Mang had the authority to give. It was of not as influential as titles like East Expedition General.

Liu Mang was conferring a title to Sun Ce. If Sun Ce accepts it, he would thoroughly become a subject of Yangzhou.

“Subject Sun Ce Sun Bofu accepts the edict. This subject thanks the Lord’s grace!” Sun Ce said as he kowtowed respectfully towards Yangzhou.

“This…” Lu Meng and Ling Cao could barely process what happened. Did Sun Ce really surrender?

“General Sun, get up. The Lord has said that if General Sun needs anything to pacify Jiangdong, General Sun can request it from Yangzhou. Yangzhou will provide as much support as we are able to.”

“This General understands. We are both officers of Yangzhou and His Highness the King of Shu’s subjects. We should naturally help each other out.”

“Of course! General Sun. I will now go back and give my report.” The young officer said to Sun Ce.

“General Lu2, go safely.”

“Farewell.” The officer said. The ship then turned around and sailed back towards Yangzhou.

“Milord. This…” Lu Meng wanted to ask about what happened.

“Lu Meng. Have the other officers take out the provisions and weapons from those transport ships. Also have all the soldiers replace their weapons.” Sun Ce said to Lu Meng.

“Provisions and weapons? From all those ships?” Lu Meng looked at all the large ships in front of him. How much provisions and weapons were needed to fill all this up?

There were at least fifty thousand provisions and thirty thousand sets of equipment.

“There is so much!” Zhuge Jin was speechless. As Jiangdong’s Ambassador, it can be said that he managed Jiangdong’s wealth. They were so poor that Zhuge Jin did not dare to use anything. Yet suddenly, they became so rich. Zhuge Jin could barely react from the shock.

“It is not just these. They also sent twenty thousand gold.” Sun Ce said to Zhuge Jin.

“This money…?”

“This money is for compensating the families of the dead soldiers.” Sun Ce said. Many soldiers were killed by Yangzhou in the war. To alleviate their hatred, Liu Mang specially allocated twenty thousand gold to compensate them.

“Milord! With this money, we can…!” Bu Lu spoke up. Even without finishing his sentence, the others knew what he was implying. The Grand Governor can be saved. Sun Ce was back in Jiangdong and Liu Mang was stupid enough to give them weapons, provisions and money. This was enough for Sun Ce to make a comeback, capture Sun Quan, and continue to fight against Yangzhou. None of them wanted to be a surrendered general. As the saying goes, it was better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Jiangdong’s officers all started to become excited.

“Shut up!” Sun Ce immediately stopped Bu Lu from continuing. “Bu Lu. I will only allow you to say this once. If you say this again…” Sun Ce said as he took out his sword and cut down a nearby small table into two.

The others there all took a deep breath. They did not know why their Lord was acting this way. But even then, they now know what they were allowed to say and what they must never say.

“I understand.” Bu Lu nodded and hid his expression after noticing something.

‘This is…! I am not wrong. This is fear.’ Bu Lu thought to himself.

‘Sun Ce is the Little Conqueror. Even after losing his father, he feared no one. What kind of person is the King of Shu to make Sun Ce fear him so much?’ Bu Lu could not help but feel interested.

What Bu Lu did not know is that Liu Mang had accidentally showed Sun Ce the power of those fifty cannons. On top of that, there was the explanation letter to Jiangdong’s people in Liu Mang’s hands. Sun Ce now did not dare to act at all.

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1. FORKIN FRUITCAKES! AUTHOR! WHO EVEN IS THIS GUY? I’m sticking with Ling Cao btw. Too late to change now

(Wikipedia Ling Tong pinyin 凌統 )

Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.

(Ling Cao pinyin. 凌操 )

(This fker’s pinyin 凌超) < Ling Chao in roman letters and for pronunciation which is why I have been typing Ling Cao)

2. Another Lu.

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