My son, how could you be Lü Bu?!

Chapter 120 Dong Zhuo Goes to the Capital

While Lü Ping and Han Hao were chatting, the child, who hadn't been seriously injured and had simply fainted from hunger, was cured.

As the middle-aged woman, her face filled with excitement, knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly, the villagers, also moved by the miraculous event, knelt down and kowtowed to the Taoist priests.

He even took out the few remaining five iron coins from his pocket and stuffed them into the hands of these Taoist priests.

The Taoist priests seemed quite used to it. They whispered a few words of advice and then hurriedly left with another group of villagers who had come to ask for help.

He did not accept any payment whatsoever.

Before leaving, the young Taoist priest in the lead seemed to notice the gazes of Lü Ping and the others, and even turned his head to glance at them.

Upon seeing the dozen or so exceptionally robust Bingzhou cavalrymen beside Lü Ping, the young Taoist paused for a moment, then bowed respectfully to Lü Ping from a distance.

This caused Lü Ping's eyes to flicker slightly, and he quickly returned the greeting.

Seeing Lü Ping return the greeting, the young Taoist priest at the head smiled slightly, then leaned on his staff and hurriedly led the other Taoist priests behind him.

They followed the villagers who came to ask for help, heading towards the distance.

Watching the group of Taoists leave, Lü Ping couldn't help but turn his head and whisper a sigh to Han Hao.

"His Taoist robe was patched and mended, and he didn't look wealthy, yet he was willing to treat the villagers' illnesses and provide disaster relief free of charge, without taking a single penny."

"He visited villagers everywhere, and the straw sandals he wore looked like they had just been replaced, but they were worn out and had holes in them."

"If we disregard their motives, these Taoist priests are quite rare."

Hearing Lü Ping's感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion), Han Hao nodded slightly and spoke at the opportune moment.

"If we disregard the motives, it is indeed rare."

talking.

Han Hao said softly again.

"As for the Taoist priest who just bowed to Brother Lü, his name is Tang Zhou. He is the leader of the Taiping Sect here. In their Taiping Sect's terms, he is called the Master of the Little Fang Sect."

"He was kind-hearted and a disciple of Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Taiping Sect. He was highly trusted by Zhang Jiao. Two years ago, there was a famine in Jiyin. If Zhang Jiao hadn't found him while passing by, he would most likely have starved to death in Jiyin."

"This man often borrowed grain from the government for disaster relief, and since I was in charge of this matter, I became acquainted with him and knew a little about him..."

Han Hao was still talking.

Lu Bu gazed curiously in the direction the Taoist priest had gone.

Lu Ping, who appeared calm on the surface, was already stunned by the name of the Taoist priest he had mentioned.

Although he wasn't familiar with most of the Yellow Turban rebels' names—he only remembered a few of the Zhang brothers—he had heard of Tang Zhou, who had volunteered to report to the authorities before Zhang Jiao's uprising.

Lu Ping hesitated for a moment.

"You mean..."

"That man's name was Tang Zhou?"

Han Hao nodded without hesitation.

"Indeed!"

Looking in the direction the Taoist priest had left, Lü Ping seemed to be deep in thought.

After leaving the mother and child with enough food for a few days, the group of more than ten people, led by Han Hao, headed towards the city.

Lu Ping came out on a mission this time.

After all, they were about to cross the Yellow River, and the caravan was quite large, so they needed a large fleet of boats to make the crossing easier.

Just as Lü Ping, using Tian Yan's name, was borrowing boats from various prominent families in the city at Mengjin Ferry with Han Hao,...

It is located west of Luoyang City, outside Tongguan Pass.

They were also traveling in a convoy.

However, compared to the large and complex team that Lu Ping was traveling with, this team seemed incredibly simple.

There were only six or seven carriages.

Inside the carriage.

Sitting there was a slightly overweight but incredibly fierce-looking middle-aged official, with a silver seal and blue ribbon symbolizing a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain).

This was Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhongying, who had just resigned from his post as the Commandant of the Western Regions.

And opposite Dong Zhuo and Dong Zhongying.

Seated there was a solemn-looking young scholar and a robust-looking, honest-looking young general.

The three sat in the carriage, and none of them spoke.

It seemed that the carriage had hit some gravel, and it suddenly lurched.

The young scholar raised his head to look at Dong Zhuo and Dong Zhongying, who were sitting in the main seat, and spoke in a deep voice.

"father in law."

"When you arrive in the capital this time, please don't lose your temper when faced with the accusations from those scholars."

"Just treat them like a bunch of fleas. It won't hurt them to curse at you."

Unlike the young scholar's solemn demeanor, Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhongying, casually chuckled as he adjusted his belt.

"Wenyou, Zhuo only killed a few more Qiang people. He clearly won the battle, so why should he be scolded by these scholars sitting in the court for no reason? And he can't even talk back?"

"Those Qiang people fear power but not morality. If we don't kill more of them, I estimate they'll rebel again as soon as Zhuo leaves."

"Only by doing what Zhuo did—ruthlessly killing one group and then winning over another—can we achieve long-term success."

"If Zhuo Ruo gets too close to that group of scholars, who knows what the Grand Master of Ceremonies will think."

Hearing his father-in-law's words, the middle-aged scholar Li Ru, also known as Li Wenyou, sighed helplessly.

That's true.

"But...but..."

Before Li Ru could say anything more, Dong Zhuo interrupted him again.

"Alright, Wenyou, there's no need to say any more." Dong Zhuo said decisively, adjusting his belt.

"I'll refrain from speaking to those scholars."

"However, when I go to the capital this time, Wenyou must prepare generous gifts for me to see off Doctor Yuan Guanglu."

"Let's see if we can get him to help me arrange a position as governor or prefect in some place."

"Scholars are very noisy. If it weren't for the emperor's summons, Zhuo would not have wanted to stay in the capital any longer and listen to their noise."

He listened to his father-in-law's arrangements.

Li Ru's expression softened somewhat, and he nodded gently, agreeing repeatedly.

Seeing that Li Ru had nothing else to say.

Dong Zhuo then turned his gaze to the other side, to Niu Fu, who stood there dumbly, knowing he couldn't understand and thus remained silent.

His brow furrowed slightly.

"You silly goose, after you get to Beijing, learn and observe more from me and Wenyou."

"Don't make any more of a fool of yourself."

"If Wenyou hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known that you, you fool, had lost so much face in front of Huangfu Song just to steal some valuables."

Upon hearing Dong Zhuo's reprimand, the seemingly simple-minded Niu Fu glared at Li Ru without showing any emotion before nodding sheepishly.

"My father-in-law is right."

It was clear that Niu Fu was merely agreeing, not taking his words to heart at all.

Dong Zhuo was instantly enraged and kicked the bully.

He sighed helplessly.

"Zhuo must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to marry his daughter to a fool like you."

"If only I could meet a valiant general who is both a scholar and a warrior, and who, like us, comes from the border regions, after I leave Luoyang and become an official in a local area."

"At that time, Zhuo will definitely kick you out, you idiot."

Niu Fu was completely unconcerned by Dong Zhuo's obviously angry words. He simply glared at Li Ru again and continued to grin foolishly.

"My father-in-law is right."

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