Tiger Guards

Chapter 584 Peaceful Transfer
The East Garden, where the General's residence and reception area were located.

Zhang Fei, clad in armor, followed five or six steps behind Liu Bei, while Lü Bu's guards trailed a few steps behind. They all carried swords and wore solemn expressions.

Ahead of them, Lü Bu and Liu Bei both had swords hanging from their left waists, but Lü Bu's right hand was holding Liu Bei's left hand, and the two were very close, just like when Liu Bei first entered Xuchang.

At that time, wherever Lü Bu went, he would take Liu Bei with him, sitting at the same table and riding in the same carriage.

They even held several banquets specifically for Liu Bei, so as to facilitate the introduction of Liu Bei to various parties in Xudu.

At this moment, Lü Bu practically led Liu Bei by the hand, his smile warm: "Although I don't know why, Luozhong has had a bumper summer harvest this year, which cannot be ignored. Whether the court can return Luodu depends on how well the military farms store grain in the next two years."

"The General is absolutely right."

Liu Bei remained serious and unsmiling. Just as Lü Bu had warmly received him before, Liu Bei neither showed excessive enthusiasm nor coldness or resistance.

Lu Bu quite admired this composed and dignified demeanor.

Liu Bei spoke calmly and reasonably: "The Grand Marshal has a long-standing tradition of seeking food in Guandong and Hebei during the summer, and his officers and soldiers may be inclined to follow suit. Now that Luozhong and the provinces of Guandong are all under the control of the court, if the court cannot demonstrate its power, it will be looked down upon and will naturally take offensive actions."

"Yes, my brother Wei Yangzu lacks prestige, yet he is able to guard Luozhong and keep Yuan Si's troops in place... This is not because I am arrogant, but because this matter cannot be accomplished by the two generals of Chariots and Cavalry. Only when I, Lü, personally arrive can I intimidate the armies of Xizhou and safeguard the peace of Luozhong."

Lü Bu led Liu Bei up the steps and into the reception hall of the East Garden.

At this moment, a group of maids bowed and stepped out. When Lü Bu led Liu Bei inside, the hall was spacious with no screens or decorations that would obstruct the view.

The layout of the hall is immediately apparent, with only two tables filled with food and seasonal fruits.

Lu Bu then released his grip and extended his arm, and Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief.

The two approached the table, extended their arms to each other inviting the other to sit down first, and after some polite refusals, sat down together.

Zhang Fei then stood behind Liu Bei, his hand on his sword.

Lu Bu's guards remained at the door, standing on either side facing the hall.

Lu Bu rolled up his wide robe sleeves and wrapped them around his wrists as if they were arm guards, instantly making him look strong and capable, exuding the air of a martial artist.

Liu Bei wore a scholar's cap and a black brocade robe with dark floral patterns, his robe sleeves wide and his demeanor dignified.

Lü Bu grabbed the wine jug and poured himself a drink, then raised the wine cup with both hands: "Since Brother Xuande also has a deep understanding of the situation in Luozhong, then Lü Bu will not hold back. Luozhong is not something I cannot defend. However, the safety of Xuchang and the Emperor is entrusted to General of Chariots and Cavalry."

"I understand."

Liu Bei spoke very little, but he still picked up the golden wine pot and poured himself a drink. Seeing that Lü Bu's expression did not change, Liu Bei also held up the wine cup with both hands: "The situation in the world is unpredictable and ever-changing. General, you did not consider me base and brought me to court, allowing me to gain prominence and honor in the world. I will never forget such kindness."

"As long as Xuande is willing, that's enough."

Lu Bu smiled, tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. After showing the empty cup, he put the small cup aside and picked up the wine bowl and placed it in front of him.

Zhang Fei watched as Liu Bei drank the wine and then reached for the bowl. Zhang Fei could only purse his lips and endure it, not interfering.

After filling the wine bowl to the brim, Lü Bu held the bowl in his right hand and looked down at the wine: "I wonder what it will be like when I meet Xuande again after this parting."

Liu Bei sighed softly, holding up the wine bowl with both hands: "If we meet again and the General is willing, I will come with a small entourage to drink with the General."

"Xuande is straightforward; we can drink together when we meet again sometime."

As Lü Bu spoke, he suddenly stood up, and Zhang Fei immediately tensed up. Lü Bu ignored Zhang Fei, went to Liu Bei's table, knelt down on one knee, placed his wine bowl in front of Liu Bei, took the bowl from Liu Bei's hand, and drank it down in one gulp. Liu Bei picked up his wine bowl again and followed suit.

After finishing his drink, Lü Bu returned to his seat with the empty wine bowl and said with a smile, "I knew Yuan Si had not misjudged you because Xuande came today. I feel deeply ashamed to be enemies with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao."

Liu Bei remained silent, simply refilling his wine cup. In front of Lü Bu, Liu Bei had no time to let his thoughts wander or be distracted by anything.

After pouring himself a drink, Lü Bu exhaled a breath of wine, feeling a sense of melancholy. He looked up at the carvings on the beam and said, "The people in the court are all dull and boring. Yuan Si, on the other hand, knows how to make merry. If Xuande likes it in the future, he might as well follow Yuan Si's example and cut off a few people's legs. That would surely help him vent his frustration."

"Don't dare."

Liu Bei responded with a smile, and Lü Bu also laughed, saying, "Xuande dares to come see me, so what else wouldn't I dare to do? At our age, there aren't many interesting things left in this world. Although I am not as old as Xuande, I have experienced many significant events. Now my mind is weary, and I hope Xuande will forgive my lack of ambition."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei neither argued nor explained, but simply raised his wine bowl and said, "General, have another cup."

"good."

Lu Bu agreed without saying much, raised his wine bowl and looked solemnly into Liu Bei's eyes, both of them tilting their heads back and drinking heartily.

Seeing that the two were chatting casually and drinking heartily, Zhang Fei felt a tickle in his throat.

This impromptu meeting by Liu Bei came to an end with the drinking of that bowl of wine, and Zhang Fei was spared further torment.

Liu Bei had no shortage of food, and although the dishes on the table were plentiful, he didn't even touch them.

Lü Bu didn't force Liu Bei to eat; he didn't have the perverse pleasure of doing so.

The situation is strange now, and Lü Bu doesn't want to drink too much.

Afterwards, Lü Bu personally saw Liu Bei off at the door. Even after Liu Bei boarded the carriage, Lü Bu stood in the middle of the road watching the canopied carriage surrounded by armored soldiers slowly depart.

In the carriage, Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh again, saying to Jian Yong in the passenger seat, "Xianhe, before, among all those who could withstand the Grand Marshal's military might, only the General himself could do so. Now that the General has already decided to retreat, who can we consult on matters of state?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Yong countered, "Does our lord also have the intention to retreat?"

"At this critical time for our nation, how can we back down?"

Liu Bei's tone was firm in his question: if Lü Bu were to retreat, Gao Shun would need to lead the frontline army to meet him.

If he wanted to retreat, Guan Yu would have led his troops to meet him, and Xuzhou would have been lost shortly afterward.

Lü Bu's rise to his current position was not solely due to his military prowess; moreover, a general who is skilled in warfare must also possess exceptional political skills in appeasing his officials and soldiers.

It makes no sense that a general who can only do personnel work within the military would not be able to do personnel work for governing the people and the country.

Ultimately, governing the people, the army, and the country all boil down to managing personnel. It's just that military law is stricter and can be more brutal. At the same time, the overall quality of officers and soldiers in the army is also higher, which means that more sophisticated methods are needed.

Governing the people can be harsh, but it doesn't need to be too sophisticated; governing a country, however, cannot be harsh, but requires sophistication, like a gentle breeze and fine rain nourishing all things.

Therefore, with people like Lü Bu voluntarily stepping down, Liu Bei had to be more vigilant towards Zhao Ji and also pay closer attention to the emperor and high-ranking officials he would be in contact with next.

Either Zhao Ji was too strong, or Lü Bu knew of his strength and thus decided to avoid the Zhao family's sharp edge.

Either the actions of the emperor and his ministers displeased Lü Bu, so he chose to stand by and watch, or even hoped that the court would suffer the same disaster as when it moved west or east again.

(End of this chapter)