Han Xian and Yang Feng entered the city in armor. Since they had only a few attendants with them, Gao Shun accompanied them to the prefectural office to meet Lu Bu.
When people shared hardship, they were friends. But when it came time to divide the fruits of victory, everyone started making their own little calculations.
Seeing their solemn expressions, Lu Bu knew the two had come to ask for grain. Unfortunately, even his own troops weren't getting enough to eat. How could he possibly have surplus provisions to give away?
"Why have you come here instead of resting in your camp, Generals?" Lu Bu asked. Though displeased, he remained courteous.
"General Lu, you previously promised to give me Yuan Shu's military provisions. My camp is running short of grain, so I've come to ask for them." Yang Feng cupped his hands as he spoke.
After Cao Cao defeated Han Xian, he had sought refuge with his old friend Yang Feng. So Han Xian merely stood by to lend him support and said almost nothing.
Lu Bu gave a bitter smile. "Ji Shu, what are you talking about? I already gave you half of Yuan Shu's provisions. Where would I get any more grain now?"
"That doesn't sound right. Chen Yuanlong came to my camp earlier and said that all of Yuan Shu's provisions would be given to me. Didn't he explain the matter clearly to you?" Chen Deng had actually been rather vague that day. Yang Feng was mainly bluffing Lu Bu.
Lu Bu might not have been clever, but he had no surplus grain of his own, so there was little chance of him falling for the trick.
"Yuanlong knows my situation. He wouldn't have said such a thing. Besides, I mobilized a great many troops to fight Yuan Shu last time, which cost me a lot of money and provisions." Lu Bu's meaning was clear: surely he wasn't expected to go to all that trouble and end up paying for it himself?
Though Yang Feng knew he had no grounds to insist, his soldiers were genuinely going hungry. Back when he had served Yuan Shu, he had never had to worry about provisions. How had he ended up in such dire straits in Xu Province? For a moment, Yang Feng regretted his decision.
But what was done was done. He could only press on. "I understand the General's difficulties. But my soldiers are starving, and if they mutiny, the consequences will be disastrous. The people of Xu Province might even suffer for it."
Faced with Yang Feng's threat, Lu Bu couldn't bring himself to care. He said helplessly, "If Ji Shu really intends to borrow grain from the people, I can't stop you. I truly have no surplus provisions to spare."
"Fengxian, do you really mean that?" Yang Feng was dumbfounded. Are you really just throwing up your hands? If I plunder all of Xu Province, what will you have left to govern?
"Ahem. There's nothing else I can do. When Cao Cao attacked Tao Qian, he slaughtered many people in Xu Province. The population still hasn't recovered. Even Chen Yuanlong's family hasn't collected all their rent for years. But..."
"But what?" Yang Feng pressed.
At the mention of Cao Cao, Yang Feng and Han Xian gritted their teeth in hatred. What a great achievement it had been to escort the Son of Heaven! And in the blink of an eye, that man had snatched it away. One was a Great General, the other a General of Chariots and Cavalry—both titles personally bestowed by the Son of Heaven—yet now they had to depend on someone else for shelter, with barely enough food or clothing.
"I've heard the harvests around Xiaopei, northwest of Xiapi, have been quite good these past few years. Why don't the two of you go to Xiaopei and 'borrow grain'?"
Previously, when Zhang Liao and Cheng Lian had lacked provisions to reward their troops, they had also plundered villages near Xiaopei. Lu Bu had heard they'd made a good haul, so he was now offering the same bad advice to the two men.
"Xiaopei? Isn't Liu Bei, Governor of Yuzhou, stationed there? How could we easily 'borrow' grain from him?" Han Xian asked.
"Liu Xuande has always practiced benevolence and righteousness. He'll surely help you in your hour of need," Lu Bu said with conviction.
"Will he? Wouldn't I be better off going to Liu Biao in Jing Province?" Yang Feng asked tentatively.
"The road to Jing Province is rife with bandits. You'll be safer staying in Xu Province." Lu Bu's expression suddenly changed as he began to threaten them. Grain was scarce everywhere these days. They could go ask anyone else, but they'd better not come asking him. And they certainly weren't allowed to abandon him and leave.
The two men left the city with unease weighing on them. Seeing that Yang Feng still seemed doubtful, Han Xian advised him on the road, "Lu Bu was right. Jing Province is a long way from here. Since he's given us his word, we can just borrow grain from the surrounding villages. If Liu Bei is willing to help, all the better. If he isn't, we can't just starve to death, can we? Don't forget where we came from."
Yang Feng nodded firmly. Then he returned to camp, assembled his troops, and headed north.
After the Yellow Turban Rebellion failed at the end of the Han dynasty, its remnants, led by men such as Guo Tai, rose up again in Baibo Valley in the fifth year of Zhongping. This rebel force was known as the Baibo Army. Han Xian and Yang Feng had been its commanders before later submitting to the imperial court and taking part in the struggles among the warlords.
Because of the narrow outlook common among peasant rebels, the two men had experienced both glory and decline. Now, with their grain running out, they had no choice but to take up their old trade again and become bandits around Xu and Yang Provinces.
Yang Feng and Han Xian broke camp and headed north, splitting into two separate forces to plunder the countryside.
As soon as Gao Shun received the report, he went to the prefectural office to inform Lu Bu of the situation.
When Lu Bu heard that the two had marched off, he was delighted. "Good riddance! Good riddance! Who says I, Lu Bu, can't use a little strategy? Hahaha!"
"My lord, Han Xian is one thing, but Yang Feng has more troops than Liu Bei. I'm afraid Xiaopei will be left in ruins," Gao Shun sighed.
"Their troops are camped in Xiapi, eating their fill at our expense. Our own provisions are already so scarce. How could we set aside any for them? I'm no sage.
"Besides, Liu Xuande is resting and building up his strength in Xiaopei. Sooner or later, he'll become a great threat to Xu Province. I spared him only out of regard for Cao Cao. Yang Feng and Han Xian can do me a favor and get rid of him." Lu Bu spoke coldly.
"Now that Yang Feng and Han Xian have taken their troops away, the pressure on your defenses is much lighter. Stop worrying about others. You may leave." Lu Bu patted Gao Shun on the shoulder.
"Yes, my lord." Gao Shun cupped his fist and withdrew.
In the Three Kingdoms era, a ruler's ambition determined how far he would go. Among all the warlords, only Cao Cao and Liu Bei had ever dreamed of unifying the realm, which was why they ultimately achieved the most. Sun Quan had been tossed about by fate in his youth, and his dour nature made him content to hold sway over the southeast. Strongmen like Lu Bu, who had risen from humble beginnings to seize control of a province, often lacked the drive to advance and were content with the status quo.
Word of Lu Bu's suggestion that Yang Feng and Han Xian plunder Xiaopei reached Lu Lingqi. So when Gao Shun left the prefectural office, she stopped him.
"I heard Yang Feng and Han Xian have taken their troops to Xiaopei?" Lu Lingqi asked.
"Yes, they left this morning," Gao Shun replied.
"Why didn't you try to talk him out of it? What if he gets hurt?" Lu Lingqi asked anxiously.
Gao Shun smiled helplessly. "Young Lady, this was the lord's decision. How could I, a mere subordinate, dare advise against it? Besides, the camp is short of grain. The lord had no other choice."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Gan Family Village was plundered just last year." Lu Lingqi looked worried.
"Young Lady, didn't you say you wouldn't concern yourself with Xiaopei's affairs? You wouldn't even accept the local products Lan Tian sent you. Why worry about him now?" Gao Shun asked, confused.
"Everyone's friends. We can't just stand by and let them come to harm, can we?"
Seeing how Lu Lingqi's words didn't match her feelings, Gao Shun couldn't help smiling. He reassured her, "How could Liu Bei, stationed in Xiaopei, simply stand by and do nothing? Besides, Master Ziyu is a very clever man. He surely won't come to harm."
"All right. Send more scouts to gather information, and make sure you tell me about any news first," Lu Lingqi instructed.
"Then I'll prepare two copies of every military report. When I deliver one to the lord, I'll send one to you as well," Gao Shun said, cupping his hands.
Lu Lingqi pointed at Gao Shun and shook her head, thinking, You really are as stubborn as a mule.
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