"It's fine then. Since you are my trusted subordinate, my treatment of you will naturally be different from others," Li Ru mused for a moment before speaking slowly.
"We are committed to supporting the King of Chu. However, this deep-seated illness cannot be easily changed. The only way is to dismantle them from within. That's why I've told you to always oppose them!"
"This subordinate understands," the shadowy figure replied, his gaze fixed on the mess on the ground. Li Ru slowly stepped aside, allowing the shadow to clean up.
"How long have you been with me?" Li Ru suddenly asked. "You've spent most of these years in obscurity. You've worked hard!"
"I dare not accept such praise. Serving my lord, even death would be an honor!" the shadowy figure hastily said, kneeling on the ground. "As long as my lord can achieve his ambitions, it will be the greatest reward for your subordinate!"
"Good. Rest assured, one day these powerful nobles will all pay the price!" Li Ru helped the shadowy figure up, clenching his fist tightly.
The shadowy figure nodded heavily, tears streaming down his face. "With these words from my lord, this subordinate is content."
After the shadowy figure left, Li Ru sat alone on his chair. Even after his subordinates replaced the candles several times, he did not move. A cold wind blew, and only then did Li Ru rise and leave the room.
Meanwhile, Diao Chan carefully placed the helmet on Ye Feng's head. Gently brushing away loose strands of hair, she forced back tears and said, "Whether the matter today succeeds or fails, my King must return safely. I will be waiting for you here!"
"Hmph. The Third Army is in Liangzhou, and this is my territory. What trouble could possibly arise?" Ye Feng wiped the tears from Diao Chan's face. "Come on, smile for me, let me be happy!"
Diao Chan knew the dangers involved. Not to mention the vicious individuals nurtured by Emperor Ling, the palace guards alone would be a handful for Ye Feng.
Although the Third Army belonged to Ye Feng, even the most distant water could not quench immediate thirst.
Diao Chan looked at Ye Feng before her, wishing she could rush into his arms. Yet, she forced a smile. "My King, go without worry. I am here, and no one will be able to do anything!"
"Good. I entrust my back to you, my beauty!" Ye Feng joked. Seeing that the Wuzhui horse had been brought over, he mounted it and rode off in haste.
"Summon someone to send a portion of our men to assist General Lu Bu and Mister Li Ru. The rest are to heat all the oil and water and place them around the perimeter walls."
"Place a crossbow bolt every ten paces within the walls, and prepare twenty arrows for each soldier. Also, seal the main gate tightly!"
"Set up sentry posts at the second gate. No one is allowed to approach. Those who defy this will be killed without mercy."
"Furthermore, everyone is to perform their duties. If there is any leak of information or signs of chaos, there is no need to report to the general. I, this madam, will take responsibility. All those who cause trouble will be beaten to death with clubs. I alone will bear the consequences!"
Diao Chan issued the orders one by one. The crowd's scalps tingled. What was this all about? It was incomprehensible, and their hearts trembled, sensing that something momentous was about to happen.
Diao Chan was simply taking precautions. With Ye Feng inside the palace, there was little to fear for herself. The most important thing was her own safety. If she were captured and used to threaten Ye Feng, it would put him in a difficult position. It was better to be prepared.
Looking at the dagger in her hand, Diao Chan hid it deeply. After a servant brought a chair, she sat down.
Lu Bu, astride his Red Hare horse, rode all the way to the Third Army's encampment. Fortunately, the old soldiers were still there, and he was greeted constantly. Lu Bu had no time to reply, merely nodding repeatedly.
"Third Army, heed my command!" With an order, the long-lost sound of war drums echoed again. Many, not understanding why, were dragged to the assembly platform.
"It's General Lu Bu, it's General Lu Bu!" a cheer erupted, and everyone pushed forward. Lu Bu gently raised his hand and spoke slowly.
"You are all warriors of my Third Army. Now that you have sworn allegiance to His Majesty, do any of you have any grievances? If one day the King of Chu wishes to command you again, can you still obey him as readily as your own arms?" Lu Bu asked several times.
"Yes! We can!" one person shouted, and the rest raised their arms in unison.
"Good! Pick up your weapons and follow me. Today, we will surely seek justice!" Lu Bu, wielding his Sky-Halberd, descended from the assembly platform.
"Wherever the general's sword points, our hearts will follow!"
"Let's go, brothers, follow me! Kill the emperor and let the King of Chu be emperor!"
"The King of Chu awaits us, hurry!"
Everyone hastily picked up their weapons, ready to leave. Lu Bu looked around and saw some holding nothing more than brooms and cleavers. He couldn't help but rub his forehead.
When he handed over the Third Army back then, they were well-equipped. How could they have fallen into such a state in such a short time? It was impossible!
"Brothers, wait!" Lu Bu shouted. "Where are your weapons? Why have you replaced them with these things?"
Silence fell upon the crowd, and they stood frozen. Lu Bu pondered for a moment, then spoke urgently, "Brothers, do not fear. Whatever happens, this general will uphold justice for you!"
After a long silence, the veteran with the broken leg threw down his cleaver and prostrated himself on the ground, saying hurriedly, "General, you must do justice for us."
Lu Bu slammed his Sky-Halberd onto the ground, creating a large pit. He then quickly helped the veteran up. "Speak slowly, and I will surely see justice done."
Tears welled up in the old soldier's eyes as he began to speak. "General, it's not for anything else. It's because Emperor Ling is too detestable. He actually had eunuchs falsely issue orders, telling us to surrender our arms. Many of our brothers were already injured, so under the guise of recuperation, they were expelled from the army!"
"But General!" the old soldier's hands trembled uncontrollably. "They were injured fighting for the King of Chu. When we were ordered to fight, we obeyed without question. But we are afraid of being scorned in our old age. This old man would have rather died on the battlefield!"
Lu Bu's eyes turned red, almost spitting fire. If it weren't for the matter of land confiscation, and if he hadn't feared a mutiny and come to the Third Army, this matter would have remained hidden.
"Damn you, Emperor Ling! Today, Feng Xian will make you pay in blood!" Lu Bu cursed. He roared, "Brothers, reclaim your weapons! Today, we will take back the land, and your sons and grandsons will have their own land!"
If Ye Feng had heard this, he would have exclaimed, "Good heavens!" Lu Bu was accelerating his own plans by many years. As for Emperor Ling, Ye Feng had intended to keep him around as a watchdog.
With someone leading the way and the Red Hare's speed, Lu Bu soon arrived before the armory. The seals were still intact, and the prominent seal of the imperial jade emblem stood out glaringly.
"You, go tear that down for me," Lu Bu casually pointed to a man. "Distribute these weapons to the brothers!"
As the man was about to step forward, an official rushed out, brandishing a horsewhip menacingly. "What's all the commotion? Do you still think you are the Third Army? I'm telling you, the King of Chu doesn't want you anymore. All of you, get back!"
The whip whistled through the air, making two sharp sounds. Lu Bu sneered, remaining silent. He wanted to see what other tricks Emperor Ling's chosen men could pull.
With Lu Bu as their backing, the crowd gained courage. They stood their ground, not making a sound. The minor official spoke arrogantly, "Don't think that just because the King of Chu is in Liangzhou, you have support. What are you? How dare you approach here? Get lost!"
"Brothers, come, kill these stinking dogs, and make some palace official happy!"
At the minor official's command, someone rushed forward to strike. The crowd hesitated, only knowing how to dodge the whip, but not how to fight back!
Lu Bu shook his head. He wanted to see if the broken spine of the Third Army could mend itself.
After an unknown amount of time, a young man grabbed the whip tightly and slapped it away. The crowd surged forward, and soon several men were bruised and swollen. Seeing the minor official flustered, he stammered, "You, you are rebelling! Do you believe I'll report you to His Majesty and make you all suffer!"
Seeing that the time was ripe, Lu Bu tore open the seals. "Brothers, come quickly and grab your familiar weapons!"
Instantly, everyone rushed to choose their former companions. The minor official, having never seen Lu Bu before, shouted angrily, "Who do you think you are? Aren't you afraid of His Majesty's wrath!"
Lu Bu grabbed the minor official by the collar and roared, "Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? Do you believe I can make you unable to speak another word!"
"I am appointed by someone in the palace! You, are you tired of living, daring to lay hands on me!"
Lu Bu clenched his fist and smashed it down fiercely. The minor official, lying on the ground, gasped for air, barely conscious. After a long moment, he hadn't recovered.
"You, you, I will definitely report this to His Majesty!"
The weak voice ignited Lu Bu's fury. He threw another punch, and instantly the minor official's head was bleeding, his lips moving but producing no sound.
"Peh, you've dirtied my hands!" Lu Bu spat fiercely and roared. In an instant, the Third Army followed Lu Bu, surging out and becoming a conspicuous sight in the city.
"General, where do we start? Just point the way, and the brothers are ready. We will definitely show our might!" the old soldier said with a smile, thoughtfully. "How many people in Liangzhou City still take the Third Army seriously!"
"Brothers, wait. As soon as the King of Chu gives the order, this general will lead the charge and show them my prowess!" Lu Bu commanded. The soldiers, hearing that they were to await Ye Feng's command, stood at attention, unmoving.
On the other side, as Ye Feng arrived at the palace gate, two inner eunuchs blocked his path, smiling. "King of Chu, His Majesty has a rule: you cannot bring weapons to the hall. How about leaving your Overlord Halberd here, and we will keep it for you?"
Ye Feng let out a cold snort. Liangzhou was originally given to Emperor Ling by him. Where did all these absurd rules come from? Moreover, today was no ordinary day, and he could not agree.
"Oh, is that so?" Ye Feng narrowed his eyes and stared at the two inner eunuchs. "Do you know what the consequences are for deceiving me!"