Zhang San, please behave yourself!-Chapter 913 - 847: A Son Is Hope!
Very soon, all the important officials who were captured this time were gathered in the courtyard in front of the prison cells.
These high-ranking officials, who had been accustomed to luxury and comfort, were now in utter disarray after being detained last night.
Zhang San arrived with his men, looked at the crowd kneeling on the ground, and laughed, "You all must have talked in the cells last night. If you think you can survive this, raise your hand, let me see."
The question of life and death right from the start made many realize that this time there was no escape.
Zhang San noticed the silent expressions on everyone’s faces and smiled very contentedly.
"However, it’s not impossible to give you all a chance to survive."
Hearing this, many immediately looked up.
Even the light of hope appeared in the eyes of many.
"I believe some of you know where the King of Shu Yang Ling’s son went, right?"
Upon hearing these words, an old man who had been hanging his head suddenly looked up and laughed maniacally.
"Hahahahaha..."
Hearing the old man laugh so, Zhang San was momentarily puzzled, wondering if the elder had been traumatized by something last night.
"You think killing the King of Shu would be the end? Hahahaha! Dogs of the Red Emperor! Heaven will not let you succeed! His Highness’s heirs will avenge him with blood..."
"What are you talking about!?"
Zhang San interrupted the old man’s words with confusion, then said, "Who said anyone is going to kill the King of Shu?"
"The King of Shu and the current Red Emperor are full brothers, born of the same parents, friendly as brothers."
"It’s because you rebels intended to revolt that the King of Shu was placed under house arrest. Luckily, I made a surprise attack on Yizhou City last night and rescued the King of Shu from peril!"
Upon hearing this, all the officials present were dumbfounded.
"No! The King of Shu did not want to rebel, how could we have advised him to plot?"
"We... we are with his Highness!"
"I never wanted to rebel, it was the King of Shu who forced me, that’s why I did it!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
"I... I... I wasn’t involved in any rebellion at all!"
The officials kneeling thought they were going to die with the King of Shu.
But unexpectedly, it seemed King of Shu Yang Ling was unscathed, and it was only they who were to perish.
Seeing these officials realize their impending deaths while the King of Shu remained unharmed, Zhang San took out a list handwritten by King of Shu Yang Ling.
"Here is a list of rebels personally written by the King of Shu himself. Your names should mostly be on it. But since the King was controlled by you rebels, naturally there are some that slipped through his notice, but fortunately, I was clever enough to add those names. So, while the King of Shu drafted it, it was completed in my hand."
As he spoke, Zhang San shook the list and smiled at the assembled officials.
"So then! Regarding the whereabouts of the King of Shu’s seven sons, I’m sure some of you know. Speaking up means merit. After all, with half of all Yizhou City’s officials imprisoned here, I can’t just kill all the officials while quelling the rebellion, right?"
With Zhang San’s words, it was like a stone thrown into a tranquil lake, suddenly intensifying the fervor beneath the surface.
"I know! I know! But you must spare me and my family, and send us safely out of the Sword South Path!"
Hu Ayu crawled a few steps towards Zhang San, pleading desperately.
But among the other officials, someone angrily shouted at Hu Ayu, "What are you doing? Do you intend to betray the Hu Family?"
Hu Ayu turned to the old man who shouted and cursed, "What do I care about the Hu Family! I want to live! I want to live with my family!"
Saying that, he crawled in front of Zhang San, kowtowing as he said, "I know, I am willing to tell everything I know."
Zhang San gestured to Officer Bi, who raised his hand, and two Martial Artists from the Town Martial Office took Hu Ayu away.
At the same time, he retrieved a dagger from his Gluttonous Bag and threw it towards the official who shouted at Hu Ayu.
With a thud, the dagger pierced the old man’s throat, and he fell in shock and despair into a pool of blood.
Zhang San sighed and said to Officer Wei, "These officials are rebels, imperial criminals, they must be strictly guarded, and they must not be allowed to commit suicide again, understood?"
Officer Wei nodded repeatedly, smiling, "Rest assured, Deputy Chief, I will strengthen the guards to prevent any opportunity for these rebels to commit suicide."
Seeing this, many officials sensed the possibility of survival but also the threat of death.
"Great General Zhang! I know the information! I know where the King of Shu’s heir is!"
"I also know! I also know!"
Suddenly, it was like a gathering of elderly eager to buy health products, everyone was rushing to volunteer information.
Zhang San smiled at them and said, "Don’t worry, everyone will have their turn, no need to rush, no hurry!"
As the Martial Artists of the Town Martial Office took away those willing to confess for interrogation, before noon, Officer Bi returned with a heap of testimonies.
Zhang San smiled at Officer Bi, "How is the situation, is there much valuable intelligence?"
Officer Bi shook his head.
Zhang San understood, many claimed to have important information, but in reality, it was just a last struggle before death.
It was officials like Hu Ayu who might truly have crucial information.
"Then select the valuable ones to report."
"Within Yizhou City, there are eight major families. Among them, four families have long been developing in the Sword South Path, known as the four great aristocratic families, boasting substantial power and high prestige. Of course, they can’t be compared with the Five Surnames and Seven Families, but their influence in Sword South Path cannot be overlooked."
"The other four are the four great martial path families in the Sword South Path, whose strength is evident, even standing alongside the four aristocratic families as the eight major families, which requires some competence."
"The Hu Family, one of the eight major families, was summoned by the King of Shu to discuss rebellion. In truth, the eight major families felt the King of Shu’s chances of success were slim. So, they sent some people to assist but didn’t use their core forces, allowing them to distance themselves if needed."
"Yet, among the eight major families, many felt that while the King of Shu might fail, his offspring could be a good candidate for support."
Hearing this, Zhang San understood.
"In other words, some in the eight major families realized that the King of Shu was indeed inept and would soon lead to his own downfall. But since the King’s offspring carries the bloodline of the Great Sui Imperial Family, if they obtained the King’s heir and nurtured him while maintaining a good relationship with their family, one day they could rely on the heir to seize the realm?"
Officer Bi nodded slightly.
Zhang San finally understood why overnight, besides the wife fleeing with her people, none of the seven heirs were left in the Shu King’s Mansion.
So that’s how it was.
