The Three Kingdoms: Rise of the Western Liang Cavalry

Inside the central command tent, Lü Bu was impatiently wiping his halberd.

In his hands, this peerless weapon seemed to come alive; the crimson blade flowed with a cold light, reflecting his heroic yet gloomy face.

His tall and imposing figure almost filled the entire tent, and his imposing presence made even the guards outside the tent dare not breathe loudly.

"Report! General, Qin Lie from Guanzhong has sent an envoy requesting an audience!"

Lu Bu paused in his wiping motion, raised his head, and a hint of amusement and disdain flashed in his tiger-like eyes.

"Qin Lie?"

He snorted coldly.

"He was just a captain under Dong Zhuo, but now he's become quite a force to be reckoned with."

"Let him in. I want to see what he has to say."

When Chen Wu entered the tent, he was immediately drawn to the halberd.

It was a pure, murderous beauty, just like its owner.

He felt the almost suffocating pressure, but remained calm, bowed deeply, and spoke loudly.

"Chen Wu, on the orders of my lord, pays his respects to Marquis Wen."

Lu Bu slammed his halberd heavily onto the ground, the sound of metal clashing against stone making people's eardrums tingle.

He didn't let Chen Wu get up, but instead looked down at him, his voice as cold as metal.

"Did Qin Lie send you here to persuade Lü Bu to surrender?"

Chen Wu slowly straightened up, met Lü Bu's sharp gaze, and calmly shook his head.

"No."

"My lord said that heroes of the world should cherish each other, so how can there be any talk of 'surrender'?"

"My lord sent me here to ask Marquis Wen a question."

"Oh?"

Lu Bu became interested.

"What did you say?"

"Why would a fierce tiger willingly confine itself to a cage?"

Lu Bu's pupils suddenly contracted, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the halberd bulged.

These words precisely struck at his deepest pain.

He was once an eagle soaring through the heavens and a tiger battling across the four seas, but now he is regarded as a lackey by the hypocritical lords of Guandong, used and discarded as soon as he is done. He can only retreat here in a sorry state, nominally to guard the area, but in reality, he is imprisoned.

Chen Wu didn't give him a chance to retaliate and continued speaking.

"Marquis Wen's martial prowess is unparalleled throughout the land."

"The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry is an unparalleled iron army in the world."

"However, an army of tigers and wolves needs a vast hunting ground."

"The warlords of Guandong regard Lord Wen as a sharp blade, using him when needed and discarding him when not. Have they ever given Lord Wen a truly secure foothold?"

"People like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu claim to be allies, but their hearts are full of suspicion and distrust."

"Wen Hou fought valiantly for him, but in the end, what did he gain besides an empty title?"

This series of questions struck Lü Bu's heart like a series of heavy hammer blows.

He recalled the heroic spirit of fighting three heroes alone at Hulao Pass, and also the humiliation of being ostracized by Yuan Shao and pursued by Cao Cao.

He, Lü Bu, had never suffered such humiliation!

Seeing Lü Bu's changing expression, Chen Wu changed his tone, his voice becoming sincere and forceful.

"But my lord is different."

"My lord says that the bravery of Marquis Wen, the strategy of Mr. Chen Gong, and the elite of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry are the foundation for establishing a stable rule over the world, not just temporary tools."

"Now, our lord has taken over Liangzhou and possesses the fertile land of Guanzhong, with well-trained troops and ample provisions."

"Liangzhou has an endless supply of warhorses, and Guanzhong has an inexhaustible supply of millet; this is the foundation a hero should have!"

He stepped forward, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.

"Our lord promised that if Marquis Wen is willing to join us in our great undertaking, he will submit a memorial to the court requesting that Marquis Wen be appointed General of the Cavalry, a position equivalent to the Three Dukes!"

"The organization of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry remains unchanged, and it will continue to be personally commanded by Marquis Wen."

"Our lord only wants allies, not slaves!"

"He is willing to swear brotherhood with Marquis Wen, never to doubt him, and would never do anything like discarding a bow after the birds are all gone, or cooking a dog after the rabbit is dead!"

General of the Cavalry!

Retain military power!

Never doubt us!

Every word seemed tailor-made for Lü Bu.

All he sought in his life was fame, status, and most importantly, respect and trust from others.

He longed to be a chess player, not a pawn that could be sacrificed at any time.

Lu Bu fell silent.

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze, with only his heavy breathing audible.

He looked at Chen Wu, and in the scholar's eyes there was no flattery, no fear, only openness and sincerity.

He recalled the rumors he had heard in recent days, saying that the Guanzhong region under Qin Lie's rule was characterized by strict military discipline, with no offenses committed against the people, and the people were able to live and work in peace and contentment. This was completely different from the Western Liang army he had imagined, which was known for its burning, killing, and looting.

Perhaps, this Qin Lie is really different?

Just then, the guards outside the tent came to report again.

"General, the envoy from Chang'an has arrived. He was sent by General Li Jue."

Lu Bu frowned, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

"Bring it in."

A messenger with a sleazy appearance was brought in. He glanced at Chen Wu, then smiled obsequiously at Lü Bu.

"Lord Wen, my General Li requests your presence."

"He is willing to share the victory with the general and fight together against Qin Lie."

"After the deed is done, submit a memorial to the Emperor, who will appoint the General as Grand Marshal, granting him command of all the armies in the realm!"

Grand Marshal was a higher rank than General of the Cavalry.

However, after hearing this, Lü Bu let out a wild, earth-shattering laugh.

The laughter was filled with endless mockery and contempt.

"roll!"

He kicked the messenger to the ground with a thunderous sound.

"Go back and tell Li Jue and Guo Si that even if I, Lü Bu, die in battle, I will be ashamed to be associated with you traitors!"

"What kind of people are they to dare discuss the world with me?"

The messenger was so frightened that he ran away from the tent in a panic.

Lu Bu's gaze returned to Chen Wu, the confusion and agitation in his tiger eyes vanished, replaced by a clarity born of decisiveness.

He took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"What a wonderful question: 'Why would a fierce tiger willingly confine itself to a cage?'"

"Go back and tell Qin Lie that I, Lü Bu, have agreed!"

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"I'm not surrendering, I'm allying!"

"I am willing to go back to Meiwu with you and meet your lord in person."

"If he is truly the hero you say he is, worthy of our trust, then I, Lü Bu, entrust my life and this Bingzhou wolf cavalry to him!"

Several days later, ten miles outside Meiwu City.

Qin Lie, dressed in full military attire, personally led his generals, standing outside the pavilion, waiting for the tiger about to break free of its cage.

The autumn wind grew stronger, swirling up countless yellow leaves, as if laying a golden carpet for this meeting that would determine the future of the world.

Behind Qin Lie were Jia Xu, Xu Rong, Zhang Ji, and a group of personal guards.

Their formation was as steady as a mountain, their dark armor gleaming with a deep light in the autumn sun, together with the disciplined and restrained army behind them, creating a solemn yet powerful picture.

Dust rose on the distant horizon, and the sound of hooves grew closer.

The outline of an army slowly became clear in the smoke and dust. The leader, with his imposing figure, stood out like a crane among chickens even from miles away. It was Lü Bu.

He did not remove his armor; he was still wearing the same beast-face armor that swallowed light, with a halberd hanging beside him. His Red Hare horse was exceptionally swift, and every step he took exuded a thunderous aura.

The Bingzhou wolf riders behind him still had arrogant eyes, but the restlessness of a cornered beast had been replaced by scrutiny and expectation.