Chapter 59 - 53 Escape
The commotion from the East City Gate was just a loud noise to everyone else, but to Zhao Hanzhang, it was the sound of the city gate crashing down, followed by the waves of shouting and killing.
Hoofbeats, shouts, screams—the sounds came from the East City Gate from afar, accompanied by firelight. The entire Luoyang City heard the East City Gate being breached.
Zhao Hanzhang immediately went to find Zhao Ji, "Uncle, we must leave the city at once."
"What?" Zhao Ji glared, "The outside is full of chaos, and you want to go out instead of staying at home safely?"
"The East and West of the city are mainly inhabited by officials, aristocratic families, and wealthy people. Moreover, the Imperial City is near the north of the city. No matter who is attacking the city, they will head straight for the Imperial City. Our place is not safe. While the chaos hasn’t reached here, we should head to the West City Gate and leave. We might avoid this disaster."
"They are just some petty criminals; you’re overestimating them. Luoyang has the Prince East Sea’s army of two hundred thousand."
"But those two hundred thousand are not in the city, and that’s only a claim," Zhao Hanzhang’s ominous feeling grew stronger. She became agitated, "The Prince East Sea had people kill King Hejian, and Jingzhao County has been in constant turmoil. Who knows if he’s secretly deployed troops to quell the unrest?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "If there aren’t two hundred thousand troops, and reinforcements can’t arrive in time, Luoyang will fall, and those remaining in the city won’t meet a good end. Even if there are truly two hundred thousand troops in Luoyang, by the time they return for reinforcements, we might have already been robbed, and whether we survive is uncertain."
Zhao Ji: "Stop with the alarmist talk, and obediently return to the mourning hall. If you bring trouble to the Zhao Family by going out, don’t blame me for not showing leniency."
Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang turned and left.