Chapter 192: Selling Daughter for Glory?

"Man?"

Hu Cheng muttered to himself, as if a blind monk had found a bright spot.

He couldn't help but shift his gaze to his sister, Hu Sanniang, who was becoming more beautiful and heroic as she grew older,

and was held in the mouth by his father, Old Master Hu, for fear of melting, and held in his hand for fear of falling.

If their Hu Family Manor really had the most brilliant treasure,

then it had to be his sister, Hu Sanniang, who was held in the mouth by his father, Old Master Hu, for fear of melting,

and held in his hand for fear of falling.

Old Master Hu, who was old and refined, and the shrewd Du Xing couldn't help but shift their gaze to Hu Sanniang.

"Why is everyone suddenly looking at me?"

Only Hu Sanniang herself was still ignorant.

This was probably the legendary "not knowing the true face of Mount Lu, only because one is in this mountain."

"Sanniang, what is your impression of that Liang Shan Zhang Zhaizhu?"

Old Master Hu stroked his gray beard and asked Hu Sanniang with a smile.

"That, that Liang Shan Zhang Zhaizhu..."

Thinking of Zhang Jie's handsome, gentle-as-jade face,

and his demeanor that was gentle but carried an unquestionable dominance,

a blush

It wasn't that she was too frivolous, but that the refined yet imposing Zhang Jie truly fit her aesthetic perfectly.

Compared to Zhang Jie, that so-called Third Young Master of Zhu Family Manor, Zhu Biao, was simply a rotting, stinking rat.

"Haha!"

"It seems we don't need to play matchmaker after all."

Seeing this scene, Li Ying, who had been through it all, slapped his thigh and laughed.

"Hmm."

Hu Tai Gong also nodded with relief.

As a father, having to force his daughter to make a sacrifice made his heart feel extremely heavy.

If his daughter also had some affection for that Liang Shan chieftain,

her future days would be easier, which would make him feel better.

"You, you all..."

Even if Hu Sanniang preferred martial arts over feminine finery and was naive about the ways of the world,

with things having reached this point, how could she not understand the intentions of Li Ying and her father, Hu Tai Gong?

They wanted her to serve as the bond of trust between Li Family Manor, Hu Family Manor, and Liang Shan!

And for a young, vigorous, and ambitious man,

besides pillow talk, what else could make him have any reservations?

"Sanniang, we had no other choice; do not blame your father."

Hu Tai Gong sighed again.

He had sighed more times today than in the entire previous year.

If it weren't a last resort, what father would be willing to do such a thing as offer up his daughter?

Even when the Heavenly Khan of the Great Tang entered into a marriage alliance with the Tubo, he did not choose his own biological daughter,

but instead chose a daughter of the imperial clan, adopted her, and then bestowed upon her the title of Princess Wencheng.

"Father, for the sake of our Hu family, I am willing!"

Hu Sanniang's words were full of determination.

She had enjoyed the doting love of Hu Tai Gong and her brother Hu Cheng, and the support of Hu Family Manor,

so today, it was time for her to contribute to Hu Family Manor.

"Sanniang, it has been hard on you."

Hu Tai Gong's face was full of pity.

"Sister!"

Hu Cheng's eyes were bloodshot.

On one hand, he was moved by his sister's willingness to sacrifice herself to feed the tiger;

on the other hand, he also hated his own incompetence,

that it actually required his sister's sacrifice to save his own life.

If not for the fact that there was absolutely no chance of victory, he would have wanted to take up his sword and spear,

and fight those Liang Shan bandits to the death!

"Tai Gong, time is of the essence; shall we go and surrender now?"

Li Ying, standing to the side, was not as sentimental as Hu Cheng and asked for advice.

"Time is of the essence; let us depart at once!"

Hu Tai Gong was also a man who had managed Hu Family Manor for many years; in the blink of an eye, he suppressed the emotions on his face,

becoming once again the composed master of Hu Family Manor who kept his feelings hidden.

Hu Family Manor was over ten miles away from Zhu Family Manor; even though Hu Tai Gong and the others rode fast horses,

by the time they arrived at Zhu Family Manor, the night was already deep.

"What terrifying power this is!"

Li Ying and Hu Cheng looked by the moonlight at the two large craters on the city wall blasted out by the cannons,

which had not yet been filled in, their faces showing signs of panic.

Is this power that humans can master?

They finally understood why the scouts who had come to investigate had all returned in such a dejected state,

and had all unanimously stated that Liang Shan could not be resisted.

How many times could their Hu Family Manor or Li Family Manor withstand such an attack?

It was likely that after a few rounds of attacks, the high walls and deep courtyards they relied upon would turn into flat paths for Liang Shan soldiers to enter and exit freely.

"Who goes there?"

The sound of their horses' hooves and the torches they carried for light startled the Liang Shan soldiers on guard on the walls of Zhu Family Manor.

Li Ying spurred his horse forward and loudly announced their identities:

"Li Ying, Master of Li Family Manor, and Hu Tai Gong, Master of Hu Family Manor, request an audience with the Master of Liang Shan!

I trouble you, young brother, to go and report this!"

As he spoke, he also lowered his horse whip and cupped his hands in a salute to the soldiers on the wall.

"Wait here for a moment; I will go and report to the Chieftain!"

The garrison soldiers did not dare to be negligent and hurried to the Zhu Family courtyard to report to Zhang Jie.

"It seems the Li and Hu families are prepared to submit."

Zhang Jie, who had intended to sleep but was called up from his bed, was not angry, but instead revealed a smile.

"Go quickly and bring them in."

Zhang Jie instructed the messenger.

"By the way, tell those on guard to increase vigilance, to prevent this from being a ruse by the Li and Hu families."

Zhang Jie thought for a moment and added.

Although he knew the probability of this was very low, he still had to be on guard!

A wise man is always cautious and never takes risks; he did not want to capsize in a gutter,

and become the laughingstock of all the Zhang Jies in the Shared Space.

If that really happened, that group of snarky fellows could mock him until the end of time.

"Yes!"

The messenger took the order and left.

"Reporting to the Chieftain, Master Li and Hu Tai Gong have been brought here."

A short while later, the messenger came to report again.

"Welcome, both of you, welcome."

Zhang Jie greeted them very enthusiastically.

Seeing Zhang Jie so enthusiastic, the hearts of Li Ying and Hu Tai Gong finally settled a little.

However, they did not completely let down their guard; what if Zhang Jie was just a smiling tiger?

They also revealed smiles on their faces and cupped their hands in a salute:

"Visiting in the dead of night, we have disturbed the Chieftain."

"Not a disturbance, not a disturbance."

The smile on Zhang Jie's face was very bright.

He wouldn't mind even if there were more people coming to surrender like Li Ying and Hu Tai Gong;

it would be even better if he could conquer the world without shedding blood.

Unfortunately, there are always some people who don't understand reason, and Zhang Jie can only "persuade" them with physics.

Zhang Jie: If you don't understand reason,

then I am also slightly proficient in fists, weapons, firearms, and military strategy~

After arriving at the main hall and sitting down as host and guests, Li Ying and Hu Tai Gong explained their willingness to surrender.

"I naturally welcome everyone who comes to join me, but can you two accept the rules of Liang Shan?"

Zhang Jie asked solemnly.

He wanted the complete Li and Hu manors; if Li Ying and

Hu Tai Gong dared to act in compliance but disobey in secret, he wouldn't mind attacking two more manors!

Hu Tai Gong nodded knowingly: "Since we have come here,

we naturally accept all of your conditions, Chieftain.

Whether it is abolishing the debts of the manor servants or dispatching soldiers to be stationed here, we agree to it all!"

Li Ying, sitting opposite Hu Tai Gong, also smiled bitterly and nodded, indicating that his Li Family Manor also agreed.

Hu Cheng, who had followed them, felt a bitterness in his heart that was hard to put into words:

Having agreed to these conditions, Hu Family Manor and Li Family Manor were no longer the manors of their Hu and

Li families, but the manor of this Chieftain sitting at the head of the table.