Lu Bu Truly Knows How to Scheme

Han Xian and Yang Feng led their armored men into the city. Since they had only a few attendants, Gao Shun accompanied them to the government office to meet Lu Bu.

When sharing hardships, everyone is a friend, but when it comes to sharing the fruits of victory, everyone starts calculating their own interests.

Seeing the solemn expressions on the two men, Lu Bu knew they had come to demand grain. Yet, his own army could not even be fed; how could he possibly have surplus grain to provide for others?

"Why have the two generals come here instead of resting in your camp?" Although Lu Bu was displeased, he remained very polite to them on the surface.

"General Lu, we previously agreed that Yuan Shu's military supplies would be given to me. My camp is currently short on grain, so I have come to request it," Yang Feng said, cupping his hands.

After Han Xian was defeated by Cao Cao, he had defected to his old friend Yang Feng, so he merely stood by to bolster the morale and barely spoke.

Lu Bu gave a bitter smile. "Ji Shu, why do you say that? I already gave you half of Yuan Shu's supplies earlier; where would I have any surplus grain now?"

"That isn't right, is it? Previously, when Chen Yuanlong came to my camp, he said all of Yuan Shu's supplies would be given to me. Did he not make this clear to you?" In truth, Chen Deng had been very vague that day, and Yang Feng was mainly trying to bluff Lu Bu.

Although Lu Bu lacked wisdom, he knew he had no surplus grain himself, so it was difficult to trick him.

"Yuanlong knows my situation; he would not have said such a thing. Besides, during the previous battle against Yuan Shu, I mobilized many troops and exhausted a great deal of money and grain." Lu Bu's implication was clear: he could not possibly have worked for nothing and ended up at a loss, could he?

Although Yang Feng knew he was in the wrong, his soldiers were truly starving. When he had defected to Yuan Shu, he had never worried about grain. How had he become so destitute upon arriving in Xuzhou? At this moment, Yang Feng felt a pang of regret.

Now that the matter was settled, he had to bite the bullet and say, "I know of your difficulties, General, but my soldiers are starving. If they mutiny, the consequences will be unimaginable, and it might even bring disaster upon the people of Xuzhou."

Faced with Yang Feng's threats, Lu Bu could no longer care about such things. He said helplessly, "If you truly intend to borrow grain from the people, Ji Shu, I have no way to stop you. I truly have no surplus grain to provide you."

"Is Fengxian serious?" Yang Feng was stunned after hearing this, thinking to himself, Are you just giving up and letting everything go to ruin? If I really strip Xuzhou clean, what point is there in you being the Governor of Xuzhou?

"Cough, cough. There is nothing else to be done. In the past, when Cao Cao attacked Tao Qian, he slaughtered many of Xuzhou's people. The strength of the populace has yet to recover, and even the taxes from Chen Yuanlong's family haven't been collected in years. However..."

"However what?" Yang Feng pressed.

When Lu Bu mentioned Cao Cao, Yang Feng and Han Xian gnashed their teeth in hatred. What a great merit it had been to escort the Emperor! Yet in the blink of an eye, it had been snatched away by that man. They were a General-in-Chief and a General of Chariots and Cavalry, both personally appointed by the Emperor, yet now they were reduced to living under someone else's roof, lacking both clothing and food.

"In Xiaopei, northwest of Xiapi, I hear the harvests have been quite good in recent years. Why don't the two of you go to Xiaopei to 'borrow' some grain?"

Previously, when Zhang Liao and Cheng Lian lacked funds to reward their troops, they had also raided the villages near Xiaopei. Hearing that they had gained a good harvest, Lu Bu offered this rotten advice to the two men.

"Xiaopei? It seems the Governor of Yuzhou, Liu Bei, is stationed there. How could we easily 'borrow' grain from him?" Han Xian asked.

"Liu Xuande is known for practicing benevolence and righteousness; he will surely provide you with help in your time of need," Lu Bu said with conviction.

"Will he? Perhaps I should go and defect to Liu Biao in Jing Province?" Yang Feng asked tentatively.

"The road to Jing Province is infested with bandits; it is safer to stay in Xuzhou." Lu Bu's expression suddenly changed as he began to threaten them. With grain shortages everywhere, he didn't care who they went to, as long as they didn't come to him, but they were not allowed to abandon him either.

The two men walked out of the city with trepidation. Seeing that Yang Feng was still doubtful, Han Xian persuaded him along the way, "Lu Bu is right. The road to Jing Province is very long. Since he has already promised it, we can just borrow grain from the surrounding people. If Liu Bei is willing to help, that is for the best; if he is unwilling, we cannot just starve to death, can we? Don't forget our origins."

Yang Feng nodded firmly after hearing this, then returned to his camp to reorganize his troops and head north.

After the failure of the Yellow Turban Rebellion at the end of the Han Dynasty, the remnants, led by Guo Tai and others, rose up again in Baibo Valley in Xihe in the fifth year of Zhongping. This rebel army was called the Baibo Army. Han Xian and Yang Feng were generals of the Baibo Army, and they later defected to the imperial court to dance among the warlords.

Due to the narrow-mindedness of the peasant rebels, the two had experienced glory but also hit rock bottom. Now that they were short on grain, they had no choice but to "return to their old trade," becoming bandits in the Xu and Yang regions.

Yang Feng and Han Xian broke camp and headed north, splitting into two groups to raid the countryside.

Upon receiving the intelligence, Gao Shun immediately entered the office to report the military situation to Lu Bu.

When Lu Bu heard that the two had led their troops away, he was overjoyed. "It is good that they left, it is good that they left! Who says I, Lu Bu, cannot use strategy? Hahaha."

"My Lord, Han Xian is one thing, but Yang Feng's forces exceed those of Liu Bei. I fear that Xiaopei will be plunged into misery," Gao Shun sighed.

"If their troops stayed in Xiapi, they would just sit around eating and drinking. We are already so short on grain ourselves; we cannot possibly spare any for them. I am not a saint.

Furthermore, Liu Xuande is building up his strength in Xiaopei; sooner or later, he will be a great threat to my Xuzhou. I only spared him out of consideration for Cao Cao. Yang Feng and Han Xian are just the right people to help me eliminate him," Lu Bu said coldly.

"Yang Feng and Han Xian have taken their troops and left, so the pressure on your city defenses will be much lighter. Stop worrying about others and go," Lu Bu said, patting Gao Shun on the shoulder.

"Understood." Gao Shun cupped his hands and retreated.

In the era of the Three Kingdoms, a ruler's ambition determined their future achievements. Among all the warlords, only Cao Cao and Liu Bei thought of unifying the world, which is why they achieved the most. Because of his displaced childhood, Sun Quan's gloomy personality made him only willing to hold the southeast. Warlords like Lu Bu, who came from humble beginnings and carved out their own territories, easily became complacent and content with the status quo.

The news of Lu Bu suggesting that Yang Feng and Han Xian raid Xiaopei reached the ears of Lu Lingqi, so she intercepted Gao Shun as he walked out of the government office.

"I heard Yang Feng and Han Xian have taken their troops toward Xiaopei?" Lu Lingqi asked.

"Yes, they left this morning," Gao Shun replied.

"Why didn't you advise against it? What if he gets hurt?" Lu Lingqi asked anxiously.

Gao Shun smiled dumbly. "Young Miss, this was the Lord's intention. As a subordinate general, how could I dare to advise against it? Besides, the camp is currently suffering from a grain shortage; the Lord had no other choice."

"Then what should we do? Gan Family Village was just raided last year," Lu Lingqi said with concern.

"Young Miss, aren't you supposed to not care about matters in Xiaopei? You don't even accept the local products sent by Lan Tian, so why worry about him?" Gao Shun asked, puzzled.

"We are all friends; we can't just stand by and watch them die, can we?"

Seeing Lu Lingqi's insincere words, Gao Shun was amused. He comforted her, "Liu Bei is stationed in Xiaopei, how could he not care? Besides, Master Ziyu is so clever, he will surely not suffer any calamity."

"Fine. You must send more scouts to investigate. If there is any news, you must tell me first," Lu Lingqi ordered.

"Then I shall prepare two copies of the military report. When I send one to the Lord, I will also send one to you," Gao Shun said, cupping his hands.

Lu Lingqi pointed at Gao Shun and shook her head, thinking to herself, You really are a stubborn one.