Double penetration: This Three Kingdoms has dragon energy

Chapter 126 Thank you, Dong Zhuo, for the super gift package!

"I see, then I understand."

Zhuge Gui looked slightly disappointed, but he could still understand Ji Qiu, so he nodded.

Then Xi Zhong stroked his beard and said, "Since the Emperor has sent this secret edict, it seems that the Emperor's situation is better than we imagined, while the Emperor's relationship with Dong Zhuo is worse than we imagined!"

If Liu Xie had very little freedom, he wouldn't have been able to deliver this secret imperial edict.

If Liu Xie's conflict with Dong Zhuo hadn't been so significant, he wouldn't have sent this secret imperial edict.

Ji Qiu clapped his hands and praised, "Zhi Cai is indeed a man of great talent and wisdom, able to see through appearances to the essence!"
"What impact does this matter have on me, or rather, how should I utilize this matter?"

"From the perspective of our lord, this matter has both advantages and disadvantages."

The advantage was that the lord thus gained the emperor's strong support.

Although the emperor's current strength is almost insufficient to change any of the lord's support except for the cause of righteousness.

This secret imperial edict alone, and the emperor's endorsement it represents, is enough to bring the lord many benefits.

The downside is that while the lord gains the emperor's support, he may also incur Dong Zhuo's hostility.

Dong Zhuo could not directly send troops to deal with his lord, but he effectively controlled the court, so he was likely to deal with his lord under the guise of righteousness.

For the sake of the court's prestige, he might not dismiss our lord from his position as governor of Yanzhou for the time being, but he is very likely to appoint a governor of Qingzhou to unite the forces of Qingzhou and make them enemies of our lord! Xi Zhong said in a deep voice.

Ji Qiu hesitated and asked, "Governor of Qingzhou? If Dong Zhuo were to appoint a governor of Qingzhou, who would he appoint?"

"It must be Kong Rong!" Xi Zhong asserted.

Ji Qiu nodded and smiled, "That's right, Kong Rong is indeed the only choice. However, he's also the one I'm least worried about!"

Although Kong Rong had great prestige and influence, and was backed by the Confucian scholar family of Beihai Kong clan.

He himself was even the head of the Kong family of Beihai who had awakened the true blood of the ancestral spirit.

But Ji Qiu truly didn't take Kong Rong seriously.

Because Kong Rong was truly incompetent in both political and military affairs!

Simply put, this is a mascot used to promote etiquette and placed in a high position.

He's truly incapable of governing a region.

Therefore, even though the Beihai Kingdom, controlled by Kong Rong, was the largest power in Qingzhou, Ji Qiu never took the Beihai Kingdom seriously.

Even if Kong Rong were to become the governor of Qingzhou instead of the prime minister of Beihai, Ji Qiu would still not take him seriously.

Because this kind of person is like a giant bubble that has been blown up.

No matter how powerful he may seem, he is easily defeated!
Xi Zhong nodded in agreement, saying, "What you say makes sense, my lord. Kong Rong is indeed not a threat. However, there is another person in Qingzhou who we must be wary of."

"Who?" Ji Qiu asked.

Xi Zhong said, "Hua Xin, the head of the Pingyuan Painting Family!"

My subordinates have heard that this person is actively preparing for war and seeking external assistance everywhere.

"Once the relocation of the people in Qi Commandery and Le'an Commandery is completed, if our lord intends to raise an army to occupy the entire territory of Qingzhou, Hua Xin and the Hua clan of Pingyuan will likely be the biggest obstacles!"

"Hua Xin? The Hua family of Pingyuan? It doesn't matter. I have already made arrangements for this. I can deal with them directly!" Ji Qiu chuckled and said calmly.

Xi Zhong glanced at Ji Qiu in surprise, but said nothing more. He simply bowed and said, "In that case, I will say no more."

"My lord, there is one more matter that requires your instructions," Jia Xu stepped forward and said.

Ji Qiu asked, "What is it?"

"The latest news from Luoyang is that Dong Zhuo has appointed Lü Bu and Guo Si as the commander and deputy commander of Hulao Pass, respectively, and has ordered them to lead 30,000 Xiliang cavalry to garrison the pass," Jia Xu said.

Ji Qiu chuckled, "He appointed Lü Bu as the garrison commander of Hulao Pass, but made Guo Si his deputy with 30,000 Xiliang wolf cavalry. This shows he wants to use Lü Bu while also keeping an eye on him. It seems Dong Zhuo isn't completely stupid after all!"

"Dong Zhuo also ordered that soldiers be recruited in Luoyang and the surrounding Sanfu area. All able-bodied men aged sixteen to thirty must join the army!"

Those who perform exceptionally well may be selected for the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.

"Everyone in Luoyang and the surrounding Three Auxiliary Regions must pay three thousand coins to quell the rebellion of the Guandong Coalition!" Jia Xu continued.

Ji Qiu frowned immediately and said in a deep voice, "Three thousand coins per person? Dong Zhuo has gone mad!"

Even though the people of Luoyang and the surrounding Sanfu region are wealthy, how many of them can afford three thousand coins?
Dong Zhuo, are you trying to force all the people of Luoyang and the surrounding Sanfu region to their deaths?

"No, Dong Zhuo isn't crazy; this is his overall plan."

The people of Luoyang and the surrounding Sanfu region were wealthy. Even if each person could not afford three thousand coins, they could still afford two thousand coins.

At the same time, the people here are physically strong, and many of them are able to practice the secret techniques of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.

With the money from suppressing the bandits, Dong Zhuo could train the civilians who joined the army, and within six months at most, he would have 200,000 Xiliang cavalry!
He stationed Lü Bu, Guo Si, and 30,000 Xiliang cavalry at Hulao Pass. Under normal circumstances, holding the pass for half a year would not be a problem.

If the Kwantung Allied Forces cannot capture Hulao Pass within six months, their morale will inevitably decline.

"At this moment, Dong Zhuo is leading 200,000 Xiliang cavalry, who have just completed their training, eastward. Perhaps he can really defeat the Guandong Coalition and restore order to the world!" Guo Jia said logically.

Jia Xu said, "Therefore, we need our lord to give instructions on whether to have Lü Bu secretly let the Guandong Allied Forces break through Hulao Pass ahead of schedule!"

Although Lü Bu was sidelined, he was still the commander of Hulao Pass.

Moreover, when facing the Kwantung Army, he was the main one to fight.

So if he really intended to, he could actually get the Kwantung Allied Forces to break through Hulao Pass ahead of schedule!
“No, there’s no need for that. Tell Lü Bu not to hold back. He should stay there and do his best to defend Hulao Pass. We must not let the Guandong Coalition break through Hulao Pass ahead of time!” But Ji Qiu resolutely refused.

He made this decision for two reasons.

Firstly, Dong Zhuo's current mindset towards Lü Bu is one of both using him and being wary of him.

If Lü Bu had truly let Dong Zhuo off the hook, it might not have escaped his notice.

At that time, not only will Lü Bu completely lose Dong Zhuo's trust, but the 30,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry under Lü Bu's command, who are nominally under Dong Zhuo but have actually been regarded as his own by Ji Qiu, will probably also be unable to escape death.

Secondly, Dong Zhuo's perverse actions in Luoyang and the surrounding Sanfu region actually provided Ji Qiu with an opportunity.

Back then, Ji Qiu was able to move all the lower and middle-class people of Luoyang away by taking advantage of Dong Zhuo's perverse actions in the city.

Now that Dong Zhuo is expanding his perverse actions to the surrounding Sanfu region, isn't this creating a perfect opportunity for him to relocate all the people of Sanfu region?
The area surrounding Luoyang, known as the Three Auxiliary Regions, was a prime location cultivated by the Eastern Han Dynasty for two hundred years.

There are at least tens of millions of people there!
If all these people could be moved to Taishan County, then the twelve large settlements in Taishan County could be filled to capacity!

Of course, Ji Qiu was not the kind of person who would be so heartless as to allow Dong Zhuo to poison the people of the Three Auxiliary Regions in order to achieve his own goals.

Could simply having Lü Bu secretly let the Guandong coalition advance into Hulao Pass change the situation?

Do not,
History has already proven that things will only get worse!

The Kwantung Allied Forces' campaign against Dong Zhuo was merely a means to gain prestige; they had no real intention of actually fighting Dong Zhuo.

Therefore, historically, after they broke through Hulao Pass, they stationed their troops there and watched helplessly as Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang, and then calmly withdrew their troops.

When Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang and withdrew from the Three Auxiliary Regions to return to Chang'an, based on the principle that if he could not have it himself, he would not let others have it either, he allowed his troops to plunder and slaughter countless people in the Three Auxiliary Regions.

But that's not the most important thing. After Dong Zhuo left the Sanfu region, it became a completely unclaimed land.

Various warlords constantly fought here, and bandits and outlaws were as numerous as hairs on a cow.

It quickly transformed this place from a once-thriving and precious land into a desolate and uninhabited wasteland!
The millions of people living here today will almost all die here in the next few years!
History has once again shown that even the worst order is better than no order at all.

Even living under Dong Zhuo's rule is better than living in a land without a master!

At present, Ji Qiu is powerless to prevent this tragedy.

So the only thing he could do was to move all the people there away before this tragedy happened.

"Send an order to Wei He to expand the recruitment of refugees to the Sanfu region outside Luoyang."

"Send a capable team from the Propaganda Department to the Sanfu region to establish an organization, spread ideas, and mobilize the people!"

"The Ministry of Government Affairs should accelerate the construction of the twelve cities of Mount Tai and prepare all the necessary living supplies for the resettlement of the large number of displaced people."

"We must ensure that all the people of the Three Auxiliary Regions are properly resettled as soon as possible after they are relocated to Taishan County!"

"In short, taking advantage of this opportunity provided by Dong Zhuo, we must empty the entire Sanfu region in the shortest possible time!" Ji Qiu gradually issued his orders.

The men all shouted in unison, "Yes, sir!"

……

On the official road of Yanzhou, not far from Qingzhou.

A team of three hundred men, like a sword drawn from its sheath, cleaved straight through the wilderness.

Their armor was covered with the patina of time, the seams of the cloth armor were repeatedly reinforced with coarse hemp thread, and the soles of their leather boots were dented from being worn by pebbles.

As the column rolled over the withered grass, the sound of the leaves colliding somehow formed a rhythmic pattern.

The halberd wielder's knuckles had developed dark brown calluses from the wooden handle, the shield bearer's thumb and forefinger were covered with a mix of old and new scars, and the arrowheads had a dull iron color, showing signs of being repeatedly forged during quenching.

The cook at the very end of the line carried an iron pot, the hemp rope pressing bruises on his shoulders, yet his steps were exactly the same as those of the soldiers in front.

Under the scorching sun, beads of sweat seeped from the gaps in someone's armor and rolled into their eyes, but they just stared straight ahead without blinking.

They were like a perfectly functioning machine, traversing rolling hills and crossing dry riverbeds. Every turn and every pause required no extra commands; their tacit understanding was ingrained in their very bones.

Birds along the way took flight in fright, but they could not scare away this silent and determined team. Through countless repetitions of training, they forged ordinary equipment and flesh and blood into an awe-inspiring torrent of steel.

Leading the procession were three military generals, each with a distinct appearance and clearly extraordinary abilities.

The central military officer, dressed in a black brocade robe, had his double-edged sword at his waist still sheathed, yet exuded a calm and composed aura.

His face was gentle, but his eyes held a resolute determination that had seen through the chaos of the world. He would occasionally turn back to scan the troops, his concern evident in his words. Wherever he passed, the soldiers would unconsciously straighten their backs.

The general on the left, holding an 82-pound Green Dragon Crescent Blade, leans it diagonally over his shoulder, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

His magnificent beard fluttered in the wind, and his green robe and red scarf danced in the breeze, making him appear as if a god of war had descended.

His presence seemed to make the surrounding air a little heavier, and the soldiers looked at his back with a sense of awe and reassurance.

The general on the right has a leopard-like head and piercing eyes. He carries an eighteen-foot spear on his shoulder, and his thick beard trembles slightly with his breathing. He occasionally bursts into hearty laughter, which invigorates the soldiers around him.

He was broad-shouldered and burly, like a moving small mountain, clearing the way for the entire team.

The three men moved in unison with the group, as if they were the very soul of this well-trained unit, leading everyone across rolling hills and dry riverbeds.

They are none other than the protagonists of this era: Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei!
However, at this time, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were far from reaching their peak; they were at the lowest point in their lives.

At this time, Liu Bei's official position was the magistrate of Gaotang County. Gaotang County was one of the twelve counties under the jurisdiction of Pingyuan Commandery.

But Liu Bei had already lost Gaotang County.

A month ago, a large group of bandits launched a surprise attack on Gaotang County.

Originally, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei did not take these bandits seriously.

But to everyone's surprise, these bandits actually had an inside accomplice.

An inside agent opened the gates of Gaotang City, letting the enemy soldiers into the city.

As a result, Liu Bei suffered a great defeat.

He originally had over a thousand elite White Feather soldiers, his loyal troops who followed him in his campaigns across the country and made great achievements.

But after this battle, only three hundred elite White Feather soldiers remained.

He lacked the power to retake Gaotang County, so he had nowhere to go.

At this moment, he suddenly heard the news that Yuan Shao had established an alliance against Dong Zhuo and set up camp in Suanzao, inviting heroes from all over the world to join the alliance.

So he immediately slapped his thigh and decided to take his two brothers and his troops to the Suanzao camp to join the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance!
There are three purposes for this trip.

Firstly, it was to restore the Han Dynasty and jointly punish the traitor Dong Zhuo.

Secondly, it was to witness the heroes of the world and let them witness the talents of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

Thirdly, it was to find food for his retainers.

After all, they had lost Gaotang County and had nowhere to eat.

Liu Bei adhered to the principles of benevolence and righteousness and would never allow his men to rob the people.

So, where to eat is actually their most pressing problem right now!
Guan Yu glanced at Zhang Fei, who was excitedly clearing the way, then turned to Liu Bei and whispered, "Brother, do you think the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance will really take us in?"

Unlike the carefree Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, though seemingly unrestrained, was actually a meticulous person.

Moreover, he has an arrogant personality.

He knew all too well that the road to the Suanzao camp to meet with the warlords who were fighting against Dong Zhuo was not an easy one.

Which of the warlords who joined the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance was not of noble status and extraordinary birth?

How could they possibly respect those who came from humble backgrounds?

Going there will surely bring humiliation!
Knowing that they would be humiliated, why did they go?

With the abilities of these three brothers, they could easily make a living anywhere!
"Yun Chang, do not worry. I have heard that Yuan Shao, the leader of the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance, comes from the Yuan family, which has produced four generations of high-ranking officials. Yet he is able to treat the virtuous with respect and gather talents from all over the world. He is truly a hero of his region."

Although our forces are small, we represent a force and have come all the way from afar to meet with him in response to his call. How could he possibly treat us with disrespect?

Furthermore, this anti-Dong alliance is also an opportunity for my brother.

Over the years, your brother has led you and Yide to travel to various places, but we have never been able to find a place to settle down.

Why is this?

Because we have neither family background nor reputation!

In this world, feudal lords either rely on their family background or the resources provided by their families to establish themselves in the world.

One can either rely on reputation to gain the respect of the people and establish oneself in the world.

If we are to establish ourselves, we must also seek these two things.

But family background is predetermined, and we cannot force it if we don't have it.

But reputation can be earned through one's own efforts.

To gain fame, in addition to having ability, you also need a platform and opportunities.

You and Yide are both top-tier warriors in the world, and your abilities are certainly not lacking.

But they lack platforms and opportunities!
And this anti-Dong alliance is your best platform and opportunity!
If we can achieve success in the anti-Dong alliance, our fame will spread throughout the world in an instant.

From this day forward, we will have a place in this world!

Knowing Guan Yu's thoughts, Liu Bei explained his ideas to him in detail.

And it must be said that his idea makes a lot of sense.

So Guan Yu was persuaded by him.

No longer objecting.

But just then, a clear voice came from behind them: "You have a good idea, but you're too naive!"

Do you really think those powerful noble families would grant you fame for nothing?

The sound immediately drew everyone's attention. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the three hundred elite White Feather soldiers all turned around and looked in this direction.

Then they saw a young man with an outstanding demeanor, dressed in a black robe.

At this moment, Liu Bei and Guan Yu were fine, but they stared at the suddenly appearing boy, secretly on guard.

The three hundred elite White Feather soldiers instantly drew their short swords and formed a battle formation.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened, and he roared, "Who are you, you scoundrel, daring to ambush your Grandpa Zhang? Take this spear!"

As he spoke, he leaped forward, his muscles bulging, and the eighteen-foot spear in his hand created afterimages.

Liu Bei's expression changed slightly, and he quickly called out, "Third brother, wait!"

But it was too late. Zhang Fei had already rushed to the person's side like an arrow released from a bow, and with a light slash of his eighteen-foot spear, he tore a gash in the air.

Then, wisps of black energy emerged from the void rifts, coalescing into a gigantic black python as thick as a water vat.

The black python's scales gleamed with a chilling, eerie light, and its forked tongue flicked out venomous mist, instantly withering away any weeds it passed through.

It opened its blood-red maw, green venom dripping from its fangs, and lunged straight at the person who approached!
Liu Bei's expression changed drastically; he was truly troubled by Zhang Fei's impulsive nature.

He knew this black python was extraordinary, with extremely strong attack power, and was definitely not something an ordinary person could deal with.

Although this mysterious young man appeared suddenly, we should indeed take him down first.

However, at this point, it is still unclear whether the enemy is friend or foe, so it would be inappropriate to use such a deadly move now.

He immediately drew his double-edged sword, preparing to block Zhang Fei's black python attack.

But before he could make a move, the mysterious newcomer suddenly produced a large, ancient-looking sword.

Then, with a swing of the greatsword, a mysterious power suddenly amplified the black python and Zhang Fei.

Black Python and Zhang Fei were immediately pinned to the ground, unable to move!

The young man was none other than Ji Qiu.

The secret technique he used to deal with Zhang Fei was naturally the dragon energy secret technique contained in the third-grade mid-level dragon weapon, the Giant Sword: Heavy Pressure!

It must be said that Zhang Fei, as one of the top generals in the Three Kingdoms period, was absolutely strong.

His Black Python Secret Technique alone could instantly kill scholars who were three or four minor levels higher than his own technique.

Unfortunately, the power system in Dragon Kingdom is not entirely determined by individual martial prowess.

Although Zhang Fei is relatively strong, given the current state of Liu Bei's forces, there is simply not enough dragon energy to provide him with much.

Therefore, the Black Python Secret Technique that Zhang Fei used was actually only at the advanced level of the sixth rank.

As for the mere sixth-grade high-level dragon energy secret technique, it was naturally suppressed instantly by the third-grade mid-level secret technique that Ji Qiu used with the Giant Sword!
Seeing that Zhang Fei was suppressed to the ground by Ji Qiu in just one exchange.

Whether it was Liu Bei, Guan Yu, or the three hundred elite White Feather soldiers, all of them showed expressions of shock.

After all, they were all well aware of Zhang Fei's strength.

That would definitely be a match for ten thousand men on the battlefield.

Despite his formidable strength, Zhang Fei couldn't even defeat Ji Qiu in a single exchange.

Just how powerful is Ji Qiu?

Liu Bei showed a respectful expression.

When Ji Qiu suddenly appeared just now, he was actually inclined to take him down and question him.

This is actually a person's instinctive reaction, so it's understandable.

But seeing Ji Qiu display such formidable strength brought him back to his senses, and he dared not entertain the delusion of defeating Ji Qiu any longer.

Strength determines status and how others perceive you; this is a universal principle.

"Please have mercy. I am Liu Bei, the magistrate of Gaotang County. My third brother was reckless. I apologize on his behalf."

"But I don't know who you are or how to address you. I hope you can forgive him for being a rough man!" Liu Bei said, bowing respectfully.

Ji Qiu chuckled lightly, withdrew his heavy pressure technique, and said calmly, "It's alright. I am Ji Qiu, and I greet Magistrate Liu."

"Ji Qiu? Could it be Ji Qiu, the current governor of Yanzhou, who was enfeoffed by the late emperor as the Marquis of Andai Pavilion?" Liu Bei's expression shifted, then he was greatly surprised and blurted out.

Ji Qiu is now quite famous throughout the land, especially in Qingzhou.

Liu Bei was originally the magistrate of Gaotang County and a member of the Qingzhou imperial court's official system.

Therefore, he was very familiar with the name Ji Qiu.

As for his feelings for Ji Qiu, they were quite good.

This is because Ji Qiu was a commoner who was promoted by the late emperor, and in the eyes of outsiders, he was definitely part of the emperor's faction.

This was naturally a huge plus for Liu Bei, who always considered himself a member of the Han imperial family and stood in the emperor's camp.

Secondly, Ji Qiu's rise to power greatly inspired Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was also of humble origin, but he harbored great ambitions and wanted to achieve upward social mobility.

In the whole world, there are actually quite a few people like him.

However, few people actually succeed, so there are few role models or goals to strive for.

But Ji Qiu happens to be one of those who succeeded!

(End of this chapter)