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

Chapter 243 I, Lü Bu, may not be unable to surpass Yuan Shu and dominate the heavens!
"Now that we have Xuzhou, why not take Pei?"

Upon hearing Lu Su's words, Chen Gong fell silent.

However, Lü Bu was clearly very interested in this, saying, "Gongtai, Zijing is right!"

At present, Liu Bei's troops are all tied down in Chen, and only that black-faced man is left to guard Pei State, with a mere three thousand men.

"If we simply repeat the story of how we seized Xuzhou, it will be as easy as taking candy from a baby."

Lu Su also advised from the side, "With Liu Bei's military strength, he only has the territory of one prefecture and 30,000 men. Even if he discovers this matter and sends troops back to Pei to fight for it, with General Lü's ability, he is more than capable of holding off the enemy outside. There is no need to worry."

Furthermore, our two families are related by marriage and can form an alliance, attacking from both sides, and perhaps capture or kill Liu Bei here, thus eliminating any future troubles.

As for the claim that my lord fears invading Xuzhou and seizing General Lü's territory, that's utter nonsense used by Cao Cao's camp to sow discord. How could we betray the alliance of marriage between our two families?

“Zijing is right!”
I could tell from that dark-skinned fellow's face what happened in Xuzhou. Liu Bei didn't say it outwardly, but he harbored a deep grudge.

At the last banquet, Mi Heng humiliated and ridiculed me, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei sat and watched me make a fool of myself. Liu Bei even pretended to be a kind person and came out to advise me.

One side is playing the bad cop, and the other is playing the good cop. Does he really think Mr. Lü can't see through it?
This is the perfect opportunity; we can both eliminate this grudge and uphold the bonds of kinship.

Seeing Lü Bu and Lu Su talking back and forth, it was as if they were the ruler and his ministers, and he was an outsider.

"Once, twice, and again?"
"Alright, whatever makes the general happy."

Knowing he could no longer persuade Lü Bu, Chen Gong remained silent, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave.

During the palace lantern banquet, the lights in Lü Bu's tent remained burning until the moon was high in the sky.

After Lu Su took his leave, he personally escorted him out of the tent. Lu Bu, holding a wine cup and with drunken eyes, came to Chen Gong's tent.

Seeing that the tent was brightly lit, Lü Bu paused slightly, called out, "Gongtai," and then lifted the curtain to enter.

Inside the tent, only a candle, about to burn out, emitted a faint light. On the table, government documents were piled up like a mountain.

Suddenly, with the decision to change strategic objectives from Chen to Pei, Chen Gong clearly had more matters to attend to.

Upon hearing Lü Bu enter, Chen Gong buried himself in his writing, seemingly too busy to even look up at him, only uttering a cold remark.

"The general has arrived?"
Why not invite that kind-hearted Lu Zijing to sleep side by side, and have a long talk by candlelight?

Unexpectedly, Chen Gong heard a faint, drunken murmur.

"Sir, are you disappointed with the cloth?"

Chen Gong was surprised and looked up.

Lu Bu stood tall and handsome at the door, holding the curtain in one hand, his eyes clear and bright, showing no sign of drunkenness.

"Lu Zijing was a minister of Yuan."

If you treat someone with feigned politeness and deceit, how can you expect them to hold a candle?

On the contrary, the gentleman has become estranged from Bu in recent years, having not had a heart-to-heart talk with him for a long time.

"Feigning compliance?"

Chen Gong's pupils suddenly widened!

Who would have thought that you, Lü Bu, would also be so deceitful and cunning? If you were to start swindling people, wouldn't you be able to swindle them every time?

"The general's portrayal was so lifelike and vivid that he even fooled the palace."

"If I didn't even have this skill of playing along, how could Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo have trusted me and given me the opportunity to set things right back then?"

With a light laugh, Lü Bu downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and tossed the cup to the ground.

Chen Gong: "."

Well, those with a track record are indeed adept at trapping their prey, but those who have been trapped are all dead, and no one is speaking out.

"What did the general truly mean by what Lu Zijing said tonight?"

"Naturally, we should follow his advice, withdraw from Chen, and launch a surprise attack on Pei!"

Chen Gong: "???"

So what are you pretending to be nice to?
"Sir, please don't be anxious."

Seeing Chen Gong's puzzled expression, Lü Bu quickly explained.

"We follow Lu Zijing's words because what he said makes sense."

Now that Liu Biao has been defeated and Cao Cao has fled, taking Changping at this time will only provoke Yuan Shu's anger and provoke him to launch an attack. We have no reinforcements on either side, so this will only bring harm and no benefit.

Taking Pei State would be different. Firstly, it would show Yuan Shu our intention to form a marriage alliance and show our submission, allowing him to attack the other warlords first, while we could protect ourselves for the time being.

Secondly, how can we return empty-handed after such a long and arduous expedition? If we can capture Pei, then the trip will not have been in vain.

At first, Chen Gong was surprised to hear Lü Bu speak so eloquently, wondering when he had developed such a mind, until he heard the last sentence.

Alright! Since you're already here, huh? That's so Lu Bu.

With a sigh, Chen Gong was about to speak when he said, "General, you may not know this..."

"Sir, there's no need for further explanation; I understand."

Before Chen Gong could continue speaking, Lü Bu raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Yuan Gonglu's wolfish ambition and desire to become emperor are obvious. He is determined to sweep across the land and unify the world."

Xuzhou had long been a target of his eyes, a fish on a chopping block, and he had been eyeing it for a long time.

Let alone the alliance of marriage, even if Bu Bai were to become his godfather, he would not stop until he had completely seized my Xuzhou territory.

This is why Bu responded to Cao Cao's call and joined forces with other warlords to attack Yuan.

Unfortunately, Liu Biao and Cao Cao were nothing but cowards, no match for Yuan Shu.

We are still fighting to the death, while they either surrender or flee. They are truly like weeds, easily defeated.

Now that the allied forces have been defeated, the only option is to temporarily feign cooperation with Yuan's camp, avoid direct confrontation, and focus on self-defense.

As Lü Bu spoke eloquently, Chen Gong's gaze towards him gradually changed, subtly gleaming with a dazzling light.

"Fengxian, you..."

Before Chen Gong could react, Lü Bu continued.

"Moreover, I heard Lu Zijing say something today that makes a lot of sense: 'Why not do it a third time if it happens once or twice?'"

So why not go through four or five more times, or even six?
Last time Liu Bei fought a great battle with Cao Cao, we gained all of Xuzhou. This time, Liu Bei fought a great battle with Yuan Shu, and we gained all of Pei.

If Cao Cao fights Yuan Shu again next time, wouldn't we be able to resume our old ways and regain Yanzhou?
When Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu fight a major battle in the future, we can certainly follow suit and seize his Qingzhou!

By feigning compliance and acting subserviently, he temporarily avoided Yuan Shu's sharp edge, repeatedly maneuvering among the various warlords to strengthen himself.

If this continues, why should we fear Yuan Shu? Bu will surpass Yuan Shu!

Even if Liu Bei and Cao Cao are gone, and there are no other warlords in the world to help us, so what?
At that time, Bu will dominate the heavens and, with his own strength, rescue the emperor and restore the Han Dynasty!
"With one of the three kingdoms under my control, I will defend against Yuan Shao in the north and resist Yuan Shu in the east. For the great cause of reviving the Han Dynasty, we must rely on me, Lü Bu!"

Chen Gong: "."

Good heavens, I actually believed that Fengxian could have some amazing wisdom or come up with some good ideas.

Good heavens, it turns out he's addicted to stealing from Pei State after stealing from Xuzhou last time.

He repeatedly moved between the various feudal lords?
I've never seen such a terrible idea, but I have to say, it's very much like Bong-seon.

"Using the chaos of the world to enrich ourselves, we will uphold the ambition to punish the traitors and revive the Han dynasty."

Chen Gong frowned and pondered, his expression becoming increasingly strange, because the more he thought about it, the more he felt that although Lü Bu's bad idea was terrible, if it was executed well, it seemed that it could actually stave off hunger.

"According to what the general said, Yuan Shu is currently a powerful and difficult-to-control figure in the world. Moreover, he is eyeing the other warlords and may launch an attack on the north at any time."

Under such circumstances, even if the general wavers, the pressure from Yuan Shu is imminent, and even if the other warlords are angry, as long as the general can join the alliance, they will send troops to attack Yuan.

Therefore, they will not spare any more troops to invade Xuzhou.

As for Yuan Shu, if we had attacked Lu Zijing every time, and fought him, whether it was a real battle or a feigned one, and then, like today, feigned compliance and spoke properly with this kind man, we could have renewed our marriage alliance.

If that is the case, then the general's plan may not be impossible to achieve, but there are too many variables involved, and we must maintain this delicate balance.

We cannot allow the warlords to be quickly destroyed by Yuan Shu, thus enabling him to grow stronger rapidly. Instead, we must seize the greatest benefits each time to enrich ourselves.

Furthermore, on Yuan Shu's side, we must maintain a good image as relatives and allies, and prevent him from attacking us first.

The calculations of the various warlords, Yuan Shu's attitude, the overall situation of the world—the variables of the world are all within one's grasp; the difficulty is simply too great.

Unexpectedly, Lü Bu's expression brightened upon hearing this.

"It's challenging, but not impossible!"

Gongtai's talent was extraordinary, unparalleled in his time, and unmatched in Bu's life.

I have faith in Gongtai's abilities; please advise him on how to proceed.

Chen Gong: "."

You trust me far too much.

Seeing that Chen Gong did not respond, Lü Bu sighed softly.

"Gongtai Zhongmou released Cao Cao, considering him a like-minded person, but later they betrayed each other. Why is that?"

Because you saw through his wolfish ambitions, his willingness to betray the world, and his absolute lack of loyalty to the Han dynasty.

Yuan Gonglu, who controls three parts of the country and overlooks the whole land, still wants to take Changping and lead his troops into battle. Why is that?

Because he was a tyrant in a chaotic era, overstepping his bounds and disobeying the emperor, his ambition to become emperor was common knowledge.

Although Bu was poor and a stranger on the road, he received help from the gentleman, first in Yanzhou, then in Xuzhou, fighting in the north and south, never abandoning him. Why was that?
Because Bu Ci Dong Qin was loyal to the emperor, he aspired to become the great general of the army, and was a true loyal and virtuous man of the Han Dynasty!

Although Dong Zhuo is dead, the Han Dynasty faces the internal traitor Cao Cao and the external warlord Yuan Shu. This is a critical moment for the survival of the Han Dynasty.

The Emperor's Star shines brightly, and the General's Star surrounds him!
If this plan is not adopted, and instead the strategy of snatching chestnuts from the fire is adopted, how can Bu'an strengthen himself in the midst of chaos and steal the fire of the feudal lords to feed the Han dynasty?
The Han dynasty fell from power, and scholars mended the heavens!
If this plan is not adopted, and we are merely seeking help from a tiger, how then will you, sir, save the Emperor, preserve the state, continue the Han dynasty, establish a new dynasty throughout the land, and uphold righteousness across the nine provinces?

Lü Bu bowed again and fell to the ground.

"Please, Gongtai, devise a plan for me to avert disaster!"

Chen Gongtai looked up at the sky and sighed, "So be it. So be it!"

Yuan Shao held sway in the southeast, Yuan Shao dominated the north, and Cao Cao led the central government, using the emperor to command the other lords!
The mighty Han Dynasty, with its four hundred years of history, has fallen to this state. Only this risky plan remains, to help the general and me fight to the death for this great Han!

"Excellent! With Gongtai's strong support, this plan will succeed."

Lu Bu stepped forward and grasped Chen Gong's hand tightly, but the sorrow between Chen Gong's brows lingered for a long time.

Pei State, Xiao Pei.

Having learned from the previous incident in Xuzhou, Zhang Fei, though unable to completely give up drinking, did learn from his mistakes.

He would get up early every morning, take advantage of his good spirits, drink heavily, and then, in high spirits, personally patrol the city.

He stopped drinking alcohol in the afternoon and evening to ensure he could respond to any unexpected situations.

As for whipping soldiers without cause after drinking?

Having learned his lesson, Zhang Fei no longer beats his soldiers without cause when drunk.

He would only carefully examine each of the city's guards when he came out to inspect the city's defenses early in the morning after drinking.

Anyone who makes a mistake, such as sleeping on guard duty, can be whipped if caught.

With reason and evidence, no one dared to speak out.

As a result, the defenses of Pei County were well-ordered, and no one dared to be negligent.

Because if you slack off or make a mistake, General Zhang will really whip you.

On that day, Zhang Fei, having just drunk some wine, went up to the city wall in high spirits to check on the city's defenses.

The soldiers all kept their eyes fixed straight ahead, gazing into the distance, afraid that he would find fault with them.
Immediately, a sharp-eyed soldier pointed to the distant army and reported:

"General, troops are approaching from that direction, carrying the character 'Lu' on their banners. Could it be that General Lu has withdrawn?"

Zhang Fei immediately lashed out with his whip, yelling, "What General Lü? Call him a traitor who has served three masters!"

He then immediately ordered the three armies to be on high alert and to prepare arrows and stones without fail.

A subordinate general offered the following advice:
"Why is the general so nervous? That Lu San-surname traitor is now allied with Lord Xuande to fight against Yuan, and is an ally of our army."

I recently heard that Liu Bei, the governor of Jingzhou, was defeated and surrendered, and Cao Cao has also withdrawn to Nanyang. It seems that the campaign against Yuan Shao is doomed to fail.

Perhaps General Lü has also withdrawn his troops and returned; Duke Xuande is probably on his way as well.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Logically speaking, what the lieutenant said made some sense, but Zhang Fei had a prejudice against Lü Bu!

Regardless of whether Lü Bu was there to attack him or not, he felt that this treacherous wretch, who had served three masters, was surely plotting to seize his elder brother's legacy.

Therefore, when Lü Bu led his army to the city walls, he shouted to those on the walls.

"Is Yide here? Come out and see me!"

"After the defeat in the campaign against Yuan, my virtuous brother Xuande and I agreed to retreat. We are passing through this area, and I hope Yide will allow us to enter the city to rest. We will wait for your return at Xiaopei and then discuss further plans."

Zhang Fei scoffed at what Lü Bu had said.

“You three-surname slave, if you want to wait for my elder brother, then wait outside the city.”

We want to open the city gates and let you go, but we can't!

I fear you will try to seize my elder brother's business again. I have never forgotten the lessons of the past!

"You black bastard, you're so unreasonable."

As for the matter of Xuzhou, Bu had already explained it to his virtuous brother Xuande. He was worried that Xuande would drink all day and would not be able to defend Xuzhou, so he came to help him temporarily take charge.

Afterwards, I offered to return Xuzhou several times, but my virtuous brother firmly declined. Why are you blaming me now?

"Stop talking!"

You traitor, you can fool others, but you can't fool your own Grandpa Zhang!

If we want to enter the city, Ansheng should wait outside the city for my elder brother to return.

“Okay, okay!

"I will breach this city today and teach you a lesson, you black scoundrel, for my worthy brother Xuande. As for the affairs of Pei, I will return them to you when you come back."

After saying this, Lü Bu immediately ordered, "The three armies will attack the city and capture and kill that black bastard."

"What are you afraid of?"

You traitor, I heard that you were so frightened by Ji Ling at the foot of Changping City that you dared not go up the city wall to fight.

"What, do you dare climb the city wall today and fight me, your Grandpa Zhang, for three hundred rounds?"

Lu Bu did not answer, but gritted his teeth and ordered, "The three armies should quickly scale the city walls. Whoever is the first to breach the walls and defeat the enemy will be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces."

Unlike Changping, Lü Bu, as an ally, was well aware of Pei's strengths and weaknesses, and without needing to probe, launched a full-scale attack from the outset.

Outside of Pei County, there were no deep moats and fortifications nested around Changping City to serve as a barrier.

Therefore, after several days of continuous attacks, Zhang Fei, who only had a mere three thousand defenders, was quickly defeated and the city fell.

Not long after, Liu Bei and Guan Yu, in their camp in Chen County, once again saw Zhang Fei, who had barely escaped with his life and had come to apologize with a bundle of thorns on his back.

Liu Bei/Guan Yu: "."

(End of this chapter)