Sili, the land of Hanoi.
With a “bang,” Lu Bu’s fist slammed heavily onto the desk, the immense force cracking the entire table.
“What? Not a single old man was intercepted?”
Lu Bu exploded in anger, while Zhang Liao, standing before him, lowered his head silently, his expression complex.
“General Wen Yuan? Has something happened?” Chen Gong quickly tried to smooth things over for Zhang Liao…
“Happened? Hmph, in my opinion, it's just that Wen Yuan’s ‘Crescent Halberd’ has been out of combat for too long and isn’t sharp enough! Hmph…” Lu Bu snorted coldly, glaring at Zhang Liao…
His attitude towards his subordinates had always been like this…
Merit, met with the slightest reward; transgression, met with severe reprimand and strict punishment.
This was rather reminiscent of his adoptive father Ding Yuan’s command style when garrisoning Yanmen Pass…
At that time, Lu Bu had achieved remarkable feats, yet he was only appointed a minor civil official, a “Chief Clerk,” and didn’t even have command of troops!
Today, Zhang Liao, as Lu Bu’s foremost general, was appointed merely a minor Cavalry Commandant…
Fortunately, although Zhang Liao was “subordinate to Lu Bu in military matters,” he had previously been granted the official title of “Prefect of Beidi” by the imperial court. He and his troops maintained a relatively independent status within Lu Bu’s army, akin to “mercenaries.”
Because of this, Lu Bu rarely reprimanded him and even had to court his favor.
This time… Cao Song’s escape, the loss of Yanzhou right before his eyes, had truly angered Lu Bu. He couldn't maintain his usual deference to Zhang Liao’s “independent” status and reprimanded him repeatedly.
“Marquis Wen, may I offer a word?” Zhang Liao spoke…
“Speak if you have something to say!” Lu Bu’s tone remained cold.
Zhang Liao took a step forward, took a deep breath, and then said, “At least three factions were involved in the scheme against Cao Song’s convoy!”
Hmm…
Chen Gong’s eyes darted. “Zhang Kai of Tao Qian’s faction counts as one, we are another, and the third is…”
“Yuan Shu!” Zhang Liao blurted out, “Yuan Shu dispatched his foremost general, Ji Ling, who also set up an ambush in Langya Commandery…”
Three groups of people? Then… shouldn’t it have been even more…
Chen Gong continued, “If that’s the case, wouldn’t Cao Song’s convoy have been intercepted and surrounded by your three waves of people? How could they have survived? The mission should have been easier to complete!”
Hearing this… Zhang Liao shook his head. “I thought so too, which is why I hid in the shadows, watching as Ji Ling was about to succeed. But who knew… Cao Cao’s camp also had deployments. A burly man with a face like a Shura, wielding twin halberds, appeared…”
“None of Ji Ling’s over twenty assassins could withstand a single strike from him, and even Ji Ling himself was no match for him… In my observation, even if I, Zhang Liao, were to intervene… giving it my all, I wouldn’t be able to repel him, and even making my own escape would be extremely difficult!”
This…
Chen Gong’s eyes spun. He knew very well what Zhang Liao’s martial prowess was like…
After all, most of the generals in Lu Bu’s army hailed from Bing Province. Bing Province bordered the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes, and daily skirmishes were commonplace… thus, Bing Province had always valued martial arts.
It could be said that every general under Lu Bu was not low in martial arts, and eight of them were famously known as the “Eight Valiant Generals.”
It was worth noting that Zhang Liao was the most outstanding among the Eight Valiant Generals. Aside from Lu Bu, who was the ceiling in terms of martial force, Zhang Liao could essentially walk through the entire Great Han empire unimpeded…
For someone to require him to give his all and still not be able to escape unscathed, there wouldn't be more than five people in this world.
Chen Gong had collected quite a bit of intelligence on Cao Cao… It seemed he didn’t have such a strong general under him!
Immediately, Chen Gong felt some doubt about Zhang Liao’s words, thinking there was exaggeration, and a lot of it.
Yet, the fact remained… it was common knowledge in the army that General Zhang Liao never lied. If he said he couldn’t win, then he genuinely couldn’t win.
“General Wen Yuan…” Chen Gong continued to ask, “In your opinion, compared to that fellow, who has higher martial arts?”
“Hard to say!” Zhang Liao waved his hand. “Marquis Wen excels in mounted combat. If he rides Red Hare, no one in this era can defeat him. This person, however, excels in foot combat. If Marquis Wen were to dismount and fight him, Marquis Wen would likely lose!”
Zhang Liao saying this was a testament to his own high martial skill, Chen Gong tapped his chin with one hand, lost in thought.
On the contrary, Lu Bu’s spirits were immediately lifted upon hearing of a formidable opponent.
“Foot combat? I have Red Hare, why would I fight him on foot? When I encounter him in the future, my Sky-Piercing Halberd will directly sever his dog’s head!”
Heh heh… Hearing this, Zhang Liao gave a “heh heh.”
In his view, while Lu Bu could win, it wouldn’t be an easy victory…
The martial prowess of the two was truly neck and neck, the difference extremely subtle. If, at that time, Lu Bu’s horse were stolen, the outcome of the battle might reverse!
Of course, at this time, Zhang Liao was unaware of a widely circulated Three Kingdoms power ranking: “First Lu, Second Zhao, Third Dian Wei, Fourth Guan, Fifth Ma, Sixth Zhang Fei!”
“Marquis Wen, General Wen Yuan, please listen to me…”
Finally, Chen Gong seemed to have figured something out. He flicked his long sleeve. “In the intelligence recently sent back by our spies in Yanzhou, there was no news of Cao Song’s return… Instead, there was news of Cao Cao’s utter grief, bordering on collapse… In addition, he submitted a memorial of ‘grief and mourning’ to the imperial court and the various warlords…”
This…
With Lu Bu’s intelligence, he truly couldn’t comprehend the meaning behind this.
“Sir? Wasn’t Cao Song rescued? Why would Cao Cao memorialize the court and send an obituary? What is he planning with this?”
In stark contrast to Lu Bu’s confused bewilderment…
Zhang Liao suddenly understood. “Oh, I get it. Cao Cao is using ‘Cao Song’s death’ to attack Xuzhou!”
“Exactly!” Chen Gong nodded…
Lu Bu remained puzzled. He was rather stubborn and easily got stuck in his own line of thinking.
“But… Cao Song isn’t dead!”
“Marquis Wen, does death truly matter?” Chen Gong reminded him meaningfully. “Just as we deliberately suppressed the news of the famous scholar ‘Bian Rang’s’ death, Cao Cao can also suppress the fact that his father is alive!”
“After all, the world knows that Zhang Kai looted Cao’s convoy. Aside from us… who else knows whether Cao Song is alive or dead? Even if we claim Cao Song is not dead, it’s just empty words! In other words… even if Cao Cao says his father is dead, he is dead, even if he is alive!”
What Chen Gong meant was… some people are dead, yet they are alive, and some people are alive, yet they are already dead!
With such a subtle explanation, Lu Bu’s peculiar thought process finally began to turn. But… a problem arose? What did Cao Cao using this opportunity to attack Xuzhou have to do with him, Lu Bu?
“Sir? If Cao Cao attacks Xuzhou… then we…”
Before Lu Bu could finish speaking, Chen Gong laughed heartily.
“Hahaha… The opportunity has arrived! Our plan doesn’t need to change!”
“When Cao Cao’s army is engaged in a fierce battle with the Danyang soldiers at Xuzhou, we will release the news of ‘Bian Rang’ being killed by Cao Cao. At that time… the Yanzhou clans will surely fall into turmoil. We will secretly ally with them and gain their support. With this, even if our troops are few, capturing Yanzhou and taking down Cao Cao’s stronghold will be as easy as pie!”
Upon hearing this…
Both Lu Bu and Zhang Liao took a deep breath.
Going around in circles, they had returned to the original plan.
This was simply like a Bulbasaur eating a Chomp-itself and looking for a Venusaur, a perfect fit.
Cao Cao, oh Cao Cao, you ultimately cannot escape this fate of the mantis catching the cicada, with the oriole waiting behind!
Even Lu Bu, who usually reacted slowly, now felt—this wave of sneak attack, guaranteed success!
…
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