I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 53 Lü Meng, Lü Ziming
Behind Chen Yu was a group of ragged people. The men among them looked quite similar, so they must have been a clan from some place who had fled with their families.

Compared to others, they were considered "wealthy," at least they had an extra carriage, but the carriage wasn't carrying furniture and provisions, but an elderly man.

When Yuan Shu's cavalry saw the horses pulling the cart, their eyes lit up. They rushed forward, brandishing their short swords, signaling the cavalry to untie the cart and hand over the horses.

"Master Jun!"

The leader, a man with a long, beautiful beard and a somewhat robust build, was likely a prominent figure in the local county. Yet, he was now in a panic, pleading with the Yuan army's cavalry scouts: "Gentlemen! My father is truly unable to walk and needs a carriage to take him to the ferry... If you gentlemen find him acceptable, why not accompany us for a while? Once my father is on the boat, the horses and carriage are entirely at your disposal!"

Such pleading words seemed to elicit compassion from Yuan Jun's scouts, but to everyone's surprise, the scarred-faced leader spat a mouthful of phlegm in their face: "Damn it! Trying to negotiate with me?"

After saying that, without waiting for anyone to react, he picked up the horsewhip and lashed it hard on the man, who fell to the ground with a sobbing sound like an old ox on its deathbed.

The cavalry behind them followed suit, rushing forward to seize the horses and even trying to overturn the carriage, throwing the old man off without any regard for his life or death!
The crowd on both sides panicked and scattered, but a young boy with a stubborn face stood in front of the old man's carriage.

Just as he was about to collide with the boy, Chen Yu finally caught up in time, took out his calligraphy brush and stabbed the warhorse hard at the base of its tail, causing the warhorse to swerve to the side in pain.

Chen Yu, his eyes red, rolled up his sleeves and pointed at the Yuan army scouts: "The Han Dynasty governs the country with loyalty and filial piety! Even the emperor must respect the elderly. What are you trying to do? Rebel?"

Where did this arrogant scholar come from?

Seeing that Chen Yu dared to show himself at this moment, the scarred man spurred his horse forward and swung his whip to strike Chen Yu's face!

"I am a Han Dynasty advisor! My father is Chen Qiu, the former Grand Commandant! I have a close personal relationship with the General of the Rear, how dare you be so disrespectful?"

Seeing the momentum of the men and horses charging towards them, Chen Yu's lips trembled slightly, clearly terrified!
However, Chen Yu still shouted these words, and his figure remained as solid as a rock, protecting the boy without ever dodging!
A court official? The son of one of the Three Dukes? An old friend of the General of the Rear?
The only one who can deal with officials is officials themselves.

Hearing Chen Yu mention knowing General Yuan Shu made the scarred leader hesitate somewhat, and his sprinting speed gradually decreased.

"Since you are a court advisor, how did you end up among these people?"

"Now that Yangzhou is entirely in the hands of Yuan Shao's cronies, can't I go north to find the General of the Rear?"

Chen Yu took out his bronze talisman to verify his identity.

"If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself!"

In fact, when Chen Yu showed off his gleaming bronze tally, most of Yuan's cavalry believed him.

Ordinary people usually use wooden slips or bamboo strips to verify their identity, so why would they use precious materials like copper to forge them?
Those who can afford copper tallies are either rich or noble. Even if Chen Yu is not an old friend of Yuan Shu, he must be from a prominent family. How could they, ordinary soldiers, possibly offend him?
Upon seeing the bronze talisman, Scarface immediately transformed, his face beaming with obsequiousness: "Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! Hehe!"

"We are acting under orders from General Lei Bo! Please forgive us, Your Excellency!"

Chen Yu glared at the other person, knowing that now was not the time to argue with such a thing, so he turned around to comfort the boy behind him.

The boy had striking features, especially his thick eyebrows, which left a deep impression. But what Chen Yu saw at first glance was the undisguised killing intent and ferocity in the boy's eyes!

That look startled Chen Yu!
Most ordinary teenagers would be just as scared as I am when they encounter something like this, and they wouldn't show such an expression.

Judging from the boy's appearance, he clearly resembled a stray vicious dog. His first reaction after being bitten was not to be afraid and run away, but to bare his teeth and bite back, showing a vengeful nature!
If this look appeared on an adult's face, Chen Yu would most likely keep his distance, but now that it appeared on a teenager's face, Chen Yu felt nothing but heartache.

"Ziming! Ziming!"

At this moment, several more people ran out from the crowd that had been pushed apart and surrounded the boy.

One of the women, a pretty one, immediately came over and hugged the boy, weeping and scolding him, "What's wrong with you, child! How can you always stand up for others? If something really happens, how will I face your dead father!"

The remaining two were a married couple. The man bowed respectfully to Chen Yu, saying, "I am Deng Dang from Runan. Thank you, Chen Yilang!"

Chen Yu waved his hand, indicating that the other party did not need to be so polite.

Chen Yu found it strange. Logically speaking, Runan was Yuan Shu's hometown, so it should be extremely safe. Why were they also going south with their families?

However, after Chen Yu inquired and saw Deng Dang stammering and glancing at the Yuan army scouts every now and then, he immediately understood.

"Even Runan...sigh!"

Chen Yu sighed heavily, squatted down and took the boy's hand: "You are still young, you shouldn't have such a violent temper, it's not good for you."

The boy grabbed Chen Yu's arm and glared at him, saying, "Are all the officials in the world these kinds of people who suck the marrow out of people? If there are any kind and gentle people, they would probably be eaten up until there are no bones left."

"..."

Chen Yu looked ashamed.

However, he still answered the boy seriously: "Aren't all officials in the world like this?"

"If you arrive in Huainan and have nowhere to go, you can go to Shuxian and find a man named Liu Miao. I guarantee that he will be unlike any other official you have ever met."

Chen Yu took the boy's hand again, and perhaps because of Chen Yu's sincerity, the boy finally did not shake off Chen Yu's hand again.

"If you do manage to see Liu Miao on your journey, could you please apologize to him on my behalf?"

The boy gave Chen Yu a strange look, but still nodded solemnly.

"Although I, Lü Ziming, have not received much formal education, I still know the principle of repaying kindness!"

"Since you saved our lives, we will definitely repay you!"

Chen Yu patted the boy's head with satisfaction.

"Lü Ziming, a good name."

"My name is Lü Meng! My courtesy name is Ziming!"

"..."

Chen Yu stood up and handed the calligraphy brush in his hand to the boy.

“Meng, the princess, is also known as dodder, which is what the common people often call dodder. Later, it also came to mean ignorance and foolishness.”

"But your courtesy name is Ziming, which means that even if you are ignorant now, you will one day be able to distinguish right from wrong and become a good person."

"I am giving you this today in the hope that you will study more principles in the future, broaden your mind, and not be harmed by the violence of this chaotic world, so as not to become a person who will stop at nothing."

Lu Meng hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted the brush.

"Thank you for your guidance, Chen Yilang!"

(End of this chapter)