Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 242 The White-Robed Minister
In the State of Chen, at Changping, military flags fluttered and battle raged.

“Ji Ling, you claim to be unparalleled in the world, saying that I, Lü, am far from being a match for you. Why are you afraid to fight now?”

"Come quickly and let's fight! Let's battle for three hundred rounds!"

Riding his Red Hare and wielding his halberd, Lü Bu led his army to challenge the enemy.

"Lu Bu, you little brat! I regard you as nothing more than a target to be sold. How dare you be my enemy?"

Ji Ling, perched atop the city wall, coldly surveyed the army below and waved his hand to give orders!

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows! Fire arrows!!!"

"A cowardly rat dares to call himself invincible!"

Lu Bu cursed, then gave the same order: "The three armies attack the city!"

Thus, Lü's army swarmed and scaled the city walls like ants, while Yuan's army rolled logs like thunder, rained down stones, and fired arrows like locusts, defending the city to the death.

Ji Ling stood alone atop the city wall, his presence profound and imposing, a three-pointed, double-edged sword in his hand, seemingly facing off against Lü Bu below the city.

Despite the heavy casualties suffered by the surrounding Yuan army, as long as they looked up at the unparalleled figure on the city wall, their morale remained high, and they fought with all their might to kill one enemy after another who tried to climb the wall.

It's all because of that one sentence: "With Ji Ling here, there's no harm in it!"
With General Ji here, how could the city possibly fall?
They still can't forget that scene. A few days ago, Lu Bu couldn't hold back and climbed the city wall himself. As a result, he was terrified when General Ji poured a basin of golden juice over his head and face. He was so frightened that he fled down the city wall in a panic.

From then on, as long as Ji Ling kept an eye on Lü Bu, Lü Bu never dared to climb the city walls himself again.

It is clear that General Ji was not the cowardly man Lü Bu described. He was forced to endure humiliation and not go out to fight in order to fulfill his duty to defend the city and live up to his lord's trust.

As for Lü Bu? All talk and no action! If he's got the guts, come up to the city and fight General Ji.

Lü Bu: "."

Ji is cunning!

If it were an ordinary soldier splashing molten gold or throwing stones, with Lü Bu's abilities, he would certainly be able to maneuver and evade them.

Unfortunately, Ji Lingjing was skilled in using hidden weapons to launch sneak attacks and never engaged in a fair and square fight with him.

On that day, he first ordered his soldiers to fire arrows at once, forcing him to dodge and evade. Then, taking advantage of the fact that he was standing on the cloud ladder and did not have enough room to maneuver, he threw a basin of golden juice down to launch a sneak attack.

The sight of him reeking of stench and having his lifelong reputation ruined horrified me so much that I jumped off the ladder. The injury I sustained is still not fully healed today. It was truly hateful!
With this in mind, Lü Bu continued to order his army to launch a fierce attack, and the intensity of today's offensive was significantly greater than in the past.

Under the command of Ji Ling and Lu Su, Yuan Jun's army on the city wall, relying on abundant defensive supplies, fought hard for a day and once again repelled Lü Bu's army.

Ji Ling looked at the Yuan army, numbering less than a thousand, and the panicked civilians around him. He approached Lu Su with a very solemn expression.

"Zijing, I'm afraid we can't hold out any longer."

During this period of time, we have brought all the private soldiers of the various noble families of Chen State here. Even the common people who went up the city to make noise and serve as human heads have been mostly killed or wounded.

Even if there are many deep trenches and fortifications left by our lord outside Changping, it is only a matter of time before they are lost layer by layer.

Lu Bu's injury from jumping off the cloud ladder has now healed.

Previously, Chen Gong, unaware of our army's strength and weaknesses and thus hesitant to make any rash moves, seemed to have realized that our attack was merely a feint, and his offensive over the past two days has ceased its probing.

If they continue their all-out attack for a few more days, the State of Chen will surely fall, and both of us will have failed our lord's expectations.

Having said what had been bottled up in her heart for days, Ji Ling frowned as she looked at the scholar before her, whose longsword was stained with blood and whose body was covered in new wounds, and sighed softly.

"Zijing, I know you are not one to boast. You are confident and have a good plan. Now that things have come to this, why not speak it out?"

"Now that things have come to this? Yes, it's about time."

Lu Su took the handkerchief handed to him by the soldier, wiped the blood and sweat from his face, and nodded slightly.

"I previously wanted to ask the general to lead his troops to Chen and defeat Liu Bei's army, but the general refused and wanted to stay in Changping to resist Lü Bu."

To be honest, I underestimated Lü Bu. I never imagined that this man, renowned throughout the land as Lü Bu, would personally brave arrows and stones to scale the city walls.

"If it weren't for the general's presence last time, who severely injured Lü Bu with a single blow, forcing him to recuperate for several days, the Changping defense line would likely have already fallen."

Lu Su subtly flattered Ji Ling before speaking in a low voice.

"However, since Huang Zhong has been replaced as the one sent to defeat Liu Bei, I do not know his abilities, but I think he is no match for the general."

Therefore, Su had already considered that he might win, be locked in a stalemate, or be defeated, which were the best, middle, and worst strategies.

He is currently locked in a stalemate with Liu Bei's army in Chen County, and we cannot break through their defenses quickly. Tonight, we should adopt a middle-ground strategy. I intend to personally visit Lü Bu's camp.

what!
Upon hearing this, Ji Ling's expression changed drastically, and he quickly advised her:
"No!
Ji was always by his lord's side and knew his intentions well.

The loss of Changping, and even the entire territory of Chen, is nothing more than the gain or loss of a single city or place to our lord.

Zijing is different. Our lord values ​​Zijing far more than the state of Chen. If Zijing is lost, I, Ji, will fight to the death beneath the city walls, to live and die with the state of Chen. I dare not return to Shouchun, for I would have no face to see our lord.

"When two armies are at war, envoys are not to be killed. Moreover, General Lü and our lord have a marriage agreement for their children. The alliance between our two families should be secure."

As Lu Su spoke, he then handed Ji Ling a blood-soaked letter from inside his armor, and said with a smile:

"Jingzhou is won, Shouchun is won, Cao Cao has fled to Nanyang, and our lord's might shakes the land."

With this military intelligence in hand, I should go and persuade General Lü to understand the greater good, distinguish right from wrong, and forge an alliance between Yuan Shao and Lü, uniting their forces to resist Cao Cao, restore the Han Dynasty, and return to the old capital.

"That treacherous servant, he's utterly untrustworthy. If he..."

Even so, Chen Gongtai always managed to make sense.

Before Ji Ling could finish speaking, Lu Su raised his hand to interrupt him and sighed softly.

"General, you also know that our lord trusts me and is willing to sacrifice the country for him."

However, you treated me as a national hero, and I will repay you as a national hero. You sacrificed your country for me, how should I repay you?

Su has been in Yuan's camp for a long time, but has accomplished nothing so far. He walks on thin ice every day, fearing that he will make a mistake and fail to live up to Yuan's expectations.

But I think that a subject's purpose is not merely to preserve his own life, is it?
In the past, Dong Zhuo deposed and installed emperors, wreaking havoc on the court. Those who died for their principles and shed their blood on the imperial steps were all righteous and loyal.

Weren't they high-ranking officials who enjoyed wealth and power?
Aren't they the talents to assist the country and govern the people?
Are they not grateful for the late emperor's favor, and have no way to repay it?

When the Han dynasty lost its glory, its officials died for it. Now, Yuan Gong's cause is not even halfway done, yet there are still no officials of Yuan Gong who have died for their cause.

"Having received no reward for my service, why should I fear death?"

Meeting the intense and dazzling light in Lu Su's bright eyes, Ji Ling sighed and finally gave up trying to persuade him.

"If Lü Bu truly kills me without keeping his word, then I, Su, lack wisdom and strategy, and I have no reason to complain about my defeat."

The general can retreat to Chen County and join forces with Huang Zhong, awaiting the lord's return to reinforce them.

As he chuckled lightly and arrogantly, and as he appeared as a scholar with a sword, Ji Ling watched him leave the city in white and said something.

"Come back alive, and the lord is waiting for you to become his minister in plain clothes."

Lu Su waved his hand without turning his head, it's unclear whether he heard him or not.

Ji Ling stood atop the city wall like an iron tower, as if his unparalleled name alone was the iron wall of the Chen Kingdom.

Night, the moon shines brightly.

Chen Gong was in his tent calculating and deploying troops. After these days of fighting, he had discovered that although there were many deep moats and fortifications outside Changping City, there were not enough soldiers.

Despite being short of troops and generals, the city is essentially empty. With just one or two more days of all-out attack, it will fall in the near future.

Just then, a messenger arrived and reported:

"General Lü requests your presence."

"Fengxian?"

Chen Gong frowned. "Fengxian, instead of resting and recuperating, what brings you to me now?"

"I don't know either, but it seems a scholar came to Changping City, arrogantly trying to persuade General Lü to surrender." "What a joke!"
We have mobilized the entire province's troops, and the city is within our grasp. He may very well become a prisoner, yet he dares to boast and make wild claims to persuade us to surrender.

Is he some kind of arrogant scholar like Mi Heng, who really thinks he is the reincarnation of Su Qin or Zhang Yi?
"You ask me about such trivial matters?"

As Chen Gong was speaking, he was about to pick up his pen and write down his plans to break through the city when he suddenly froze.

"No, Fengxian wouldn't go so far as to invite me specifically for such a joke."

He looked up and stared intently at the messenger, then spoke in surprise.

"Could it be that Fengxian has truly believed this man's wild words and is actually considering surrendering and withdrawing his troops?"

The messenger looked embarrassed and remained silent.

Chen Gong immediately understood what he meant and cursed inwardly: Foolish!
Gong Zheng was plotting a desperate battle to break through the city, so why did Fengxian surrender first?
Knowing the urgency of the situation, he disregarded everything else and hurriedly got up and rushed to Lü Bu's tent.

When Chen Gong lifted the curtain and entered, the large tent was already filled with music, singing, and revelry.

Lu Bu, sitting at the head of the table, was beaming with joy as he exchanged toasts with a stranger, a scholar, appearing to be bosom friends.

Chen Gong frowned in confusion, and was about to speak when Lü Bu looked up and saw him, smiling as he introduced him.

"Gongtai has arrived?"
Quickly, come and meet Lu Zijing.

Zijing is a good man; thankfully, his words woke me from my dream, otherwise Bu would have almost turned against his in-laws.

Chen Gong: "."

"Fengxian, you've had too much to drink."

After giving Lü Bu a cold glance, Chen Gong slowly walked up to Lu Su and chuckled coldly.

"Sir, you use deceitful words and silver tongues to manipulate Fengxian at will. Do you think that there is no one in our army and that the palace is nothing to you?"

Before Lu Su could answer, Lü Bu, reeking of alcohol, quickly tried to smooth things over with a laugh.

"Gongtai, you've misunderstood."

Zijing is an honest man; given his kind nature, he would never lie to me.

Chen Gong: "???"

"General, you can know a person's face but not his heart. You have only met him for the first time, how do you know that he is honest and kind?"

The more you say this, the more you're likely being misled by his empty promises. Even without asking, I know he's probably just saying things like Yuan Shao ascending the throne and you becoming a powerful general due to your maternal relatives to deceive you.

As he spoke, he immediately shouted and gave the order.

"Someone come!
"Our lord has been deceived by him. Quickly drag this treacherous scoundrel out and execute him!"

Lü Bu knew that Chen Gong had misunderstood and hurriedly tried to stop him, but Lu Su remained calm and asked with a smile.

“Since you want to kill me, why don’t you listen to what I have to say first?”

"I have said all I can say. If I must still be executed, I will die without regret."

"Oh dear, in war, one should not kill envoys. Gongtai, please listen to what Zijing has to say. He really means well for me!"

Chen Gong: "."

"Fine!"
"Today, I'll see what you, you fiend, have to say."

Lu Su clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "I am but a humble student, but I have long admired the great name of Master Gongtai. Today, on this auspicious day, with the landscape before me, I humbly request that you lend me your ear!"

Have you not seen the mighty Yellow River, surging and raging, bringing chaos and devastation, and in its fury, it poured out all the waters of Xiangyang?

Have you not seen the million Yellow Turbans shouting in unison, daring to change the heavens and earth?

You have united the lands of five states, raised four regional lords, and, following a false edict from Luoyang, have violated the borders of my lord.

Its rise was swift, and its fall was sudden!

Now, Liu Biao has surrendered, Cao Cao has fled, Liu Bei is in dire straits, and you are left with only your own strength. Even if you break through Changping and gain control of Chen, what then?

If our lord is angered and raises an army northward with 300,000 troops to attack and destroy Xu, how can you, general, stop him?
Now Liu Biao has lost his territory, Cao Cao has lost his troops, and Liu Bei has lost his opportunity. At this time, if my lord were to invade Xuzhou, none of the warlords in the world would be able to come to your aid.

Even the combined forces of the four garrison commanderies could not defeat them, and relying on the wealth of the nine commanderies of Jing and Xiang, they suddenly perished.

Now, with only the small territory of Xuzhou and the strength of your family, General, I dare ask you, sir, how can you claim victory?"

Although it was a question, Lu Su didn't wait for Chen Gong to answer and answered for him instead.

We can't hold out!

The reason why General Lü was able to break through Changping and gain the State of Chen was simply because he relied on the alliance of the feudal lords and took advantage of the gap in our lord's military strength to seize a city or a place.

However, looking across the world, my lord has defeated all the feudal lords, his power shakes the land, and none of the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty dare to offend him.

If now, for the sake of the mere state of Chen, I were to anger my lord and become a knife in the hands and a sword in the palms of other lords.

"If one day our clan is suddenly wiped out, and we all die, do not say you were not warned!"

After Lu Su finished speaking, Chen Gong also frowned.

How could Chen Gong not worry about what Lu Su said?

Originally, this military expedition was initiated by Cao Cao to form an alliance of warlords to jointly attack Yuan Shu in order to aid Liu Biao and limit Yuan Shu's development.

But now the initiator, Cao Cao, has fled in panic, and Liu Biao, who sought help, has been defeated and surrendered.

The founders of the alliance and the purpose of the alliance suddenly seem to have disappeared.
Chen Gong: "."

Stupid! It's impossible to play with this bunch of incompetent teammates!
I've been fighting here for ages, and I've finally managed to build up an advantage little by little. Now I'm about to push down Changping and crush Yuan's army.

When he turned around, all his teammates were gone.

What else is there to fight?
As Lu Su said, Changping, and indeed the entire state of Chen, is indeed a place that is neither worth keeping nor worth discarding.

It's too hot to handle!
Even if we win, what if we draw Yuan Shu's firepower? Are we going to fight against this behemoth Yuan Shu with the strength of one family?

Unfortunately, Liu Biao was already gone, and Cao Cao had just suffered a major defeat, so he had no spare strength to provide support.

As for Liu Bei?

With his limited troops and territory, his efforts to help would be futile.

But while the principle is sound, one cannot lose in terms of momentum.

The moment the envoy sent by Yuan Ying tried to persuade him, he withdrew his troops. Doesn't General Lü have any pride?
Chen Gong sneered, "Are you threatening me?"

Back then, at Hulao Pass, General Lü single-handedly held off the feudal lords of the world, regarding a million-strong army as nothing more than weeds.

"Today, let alone that Lord Yuan doesn't even have 300,000 troops, even if he had a million, you think you can make us retreat with just your silver tongue and empty words? It's utterly laughable!"

Lu Bu: "???"

Seemingly anticipating Chen Gong's attitude, Lu Su spoke eloquently.

"Firstly, Chen State and Xu State do not border each other. General Lü would find it difficult to defend if he gained it, but it would be a pity to abandon it."

Secondly, my lord and General Lü are not enemies but relatives by marriage. How can we ally with an enemy and then attack our own relative by marriage?

Lu Su smiled slightly and raised his glass in a toast.

"Have you not seen that Liu Bei's entire army was tied down in Chen by me, while Pei State had no one to lead it?"

Why not a third time?

"Now that we have Xuzhou, why not take Pei?"

(End of this chapter)