Seeing how sincere Lü Bu looked, Chen Gong's expression softened slightly. "It is a good thing that you recognize your mistakes and are willing to mend your ways, General. How could I ever abandon you?"
"Good! That's good!"
Lü Bu nodded repeatedly. He truly could not do without Chen Gong.
Then Chen Gong took another letter from inside his robe and said to Lü Bu, "General, there is also this letter, sent by Liu Bei."
"He says he hopes you will return Pei County to him."
The letter had arrived in Xiapi that morning, and it was the real reason Chen Gong had come to discuss matters with Lü Bu that day.
Lü Bu snorted. "So he cannot take Pei County and has no choice but to come begging me? First so arrogant, now so deferential. What a joke!"
He had received word of Liu Bei's attack on Pei County several days earlier.
When he first heard that Liu Bei had arrived with fifty thousand of Yuan Shao's troops, he had been startled. Thinking Yuan Shao meant to help Liu Bei retake Pei County by force, he had even prepared to withdraw his army.
After all, that was an army of fifty thousand. There was no need to clash head-on with Yuan Shao's troops over a single Pei County.
But another report soon arrived from the front. Those fifty thousand troops were only backing Liu Bei up; the force actually attacking Pei County numbered just five thousand.
Taking Pei County with a mere five thousand troops? What was that if not a pipe dream?
Now that he could not take it, he had come begging for the city back. The man truly had no shame.
"It is not that simple. You should read the letter first, General."
Chen Gong shook his head and handed the letter to Lü Bu.
Lü Bu accepted it with some suspicion, rubbed his eyes, and began reading carefully. Before long, his expression changed.
After reading for a while, Lü Bu lowered the letter and fell into thought.
Only after some time did he ask Chen Gong, "Gongtai, how much of what Liu Bei says in this letter do you believe?"
The contents of the letter were truly startling.
In essence, it said that the Son of Heaven was now under house arrest in Ye City at Yuan Shao's hands.
And Yuan Shao intended to imitate Dong Zhuo, holding the Son of Heaven hostage to command the lords.
Liu Bei had been entrusted by the Son of Heaven with secretly gathering support from all sides to rescue him from Yuan Shao. But Yuan Shao had grown suspicious, forcing Liu Bei to pledge under military law that he would capture Pei County within ten days or face punishment.
That was why he was asking Lü Bu to return Pei County to him, resolving his immediate crisis so they could then plot together to rescue the Son of Heaven from peril and oppose the Yuan Clan Brothers.
Chapter 53: Where Are You Going, Governor?
Lü Bu had no choice but to take Liu Bei's letter seriously.
For it conveyed a crucial piece of information-the Son of Heaven was now being held under house arrest by Yuan Shao in Ye City!
Of course, whether that news was true was another matter entirely.
That was why Lü Bu had asked Chen Gong for his opinion.
Chen Gong had already read the letter. At the question, he pondered briefly before replying, "Both Cao Cao and Yuan Shao now claim to have the Son of Heaven with them, but we still do not know which is genuine and which is false. The Son of Heaven in Yuan Shao's custody may not be the real one."
"What Liu Bei says in this letter could also be a lie he invented to trick you into giving him Pei County."
The letter presented only Liu Bei's side of the story.
There was no way to verify whether it was true.
Lü Bu looked uncertain. After much hesitation, he said, "But... I have known Liu Bei for a long time. Though we have our differences, I know his character. Surely he would not invent such a lie just to cheat me out of a little Pei County."
Chen Gong raised an eyebrow. "Then you believe Liu Bei is telling the truth, General?"
Lü Bu spread his hands and shook his head. "I don't know. I am too quick to trust people, after all. Perhaps Liu Bei really is deceiving me."
"What do you think I should do, Gongtai?"
Lü Bu certainly knew how to pose a difficult problem. On one hand, he felt Liu Bei did not seem to be lying; on the other, he feared being deceived. He simply tossed the question to Chen Gong.
Of course, that was also his greatest strength.
When trouble arose, he did not spout nonsense. He listened to advice and kept his belly full.
"I believe we can give Pei County to Liu Bei."
Chen Gong answered quickly, then explained, "Yuan Shao has sent fifty thousand troops this time. They appear to be backing Liu Bei up, but I fear their purpose is not that simple."
"If what Liu Bei says in his letter is true, then once his assault fails, those fifty thousand troops will likely take over and continue attacking Pei County."
"In that case, Pei County's fall is only a matter of time."
"Since that is so, we might as well hand it over to Liu Bei of our own accord. First, we can avoid losing soldiers. Second, we can make Liu Bei owe us a favor."
Lü Bu considered it and felt that Chen Gong had a point.
Pei County could not be held, no matter what.
Better to hand it over to Liu Bei and earn a favor.
"Then how likely do you think it is that the Son of Heaven in Ye City is genuine, Gongtai? Does Yuan Shao truly intend to hold the Son of Heaven hostage to command the lords?"
The Son of Heaven's safety and whereabouts were what concerned Lü Bu most.
He still vividly remembered joining forces with Wang Yun to kill Dong Zhuo. The Son of Heaven had appointed him Might-Exerting General, granted him acting imperial authority and ceremonial standing equal to the Three Excellencies, and elevated him to Marquis of Wen. He had shared control of court affairs with Wang Yun, receiving the Son of Heaven's abundant trust and encouragement.
Later, when the Son of Heaven was in Hedong, he had also issued an edict ordering Lü Bu to come escort him.
But Lü Bu's army had lacked sufficient grain reserves at the time, so he had been unable to come to the throne's aid. Even so, the Son of Heaven had not blamed him, instead issuing another edict promoting him to General Who Pacifies the East and granting him the title Marquis of Pingtao.
He had always kept that favor engraved upon his heart.
Chen Gong said, "Liu Bei saw the Son of Heaven with his own eyes and received a charge from him, so he should be genuine. As for whether Yuan Shao harbors disloyal intentions... one need only look at Yuan Shu."
Building a good reputation was difficult.
Destroying one, however, was easy.
The damage Yuan Shu's declaration of himself as emperor had done to Yuan Shao was now becoming apparent. No one would believe that Yuan Shao, his elder brother, had known nothing about it.
"Those two traitors! How dare they humiliate His Majesty like this!"
Lü Bu flew into a rage and smashed the table before him in two with a single punch.
Wine and food spilled across the floor.
Even Dong Zhuo had not dared proclaim himself emperor while holding the Son of Heaven hostage. Now one of the Yuan Clan Brothers had declared himself emperor while the other held the Son of Heaven captive. They were utterly despicable!
Seeing this, Chen Gong said, "General, your first step should be to reject Yuan Shu's marriage proposal, openly break with him, and prepare vigorously for war."
"If things unfold as I expect, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao will both invoke imperial edicts to condemn the traitor and summon the lords of the realm to campaign against Yuan Shu."
"We should begin preparing as soon as possible."
Chen Gong's insight was keen. He had already foreseen how events would unfold, so he urged Lü Bu to mend the roof before the rain came.
Naturally, Lü Bu followed Chen Gong's advice without question. He declared at once, "Rest assured, Gongtai. I will take men to behead that emissary right now! His head will hang from the gate tower of Xiapi City!"
With that, Lü Bu grabbed the sword hanging from a pillar and strode out, seething with murderous intent, heading straight for the postal station outside the city.
After watching Lü Bu leave, Chen Gong immediately set off for the military camp.
He had to send someone to Pei County at once to withdraw the troops stationed there. If he was too late, Liu Bei would face punishment under military law.
The Mountain Character Camp's encampment, ten li outside Pei County.
Inside the command tent, Liu Bei paced back and forth, his heart burning with anxiety. From time to time, he looked toward the entrance, seemingly waiting for something.
Guan Yu sat to one side, silently wiping the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hands.
Before long, a figure hurried into the command tent. It was Zhang Fei.
"Yide! What is happening at Pei County?"
The moment Zhang Fei returned, Liu Bei went forward to question him, his voice filled with urgency.
Four full days had passed since he sent his letter to Lü Bu. Today was the fifth day-and the final day of the deadline set by his military pledge.
If he still failed to take Pei County today, he would face punishment under military law!
Meeting his elder brother's expectant gaze, Zhang Fei shook his head gravely.
The light in Liu Bei's eyes immediately dimmed.
"Still... no?"
Sending Lü Bu that letter had been a gamble for a chance at survival. But now it seemed he had lost, and the price was the lives of all three brothers.
"Elder brother, let's go."
Guan Yu suddenly rose. His eyes now brimming with murderous intent, he said in a low voice, "Third Brother and I will cover you. We'll fight our way out together!"
He refused to sit there waiting to die!
"Elder brother, I've already got the horses ready outside!"
Zhang Fei spoke as well. Clearly, he had the same plan as Guan Yu.
Seeing the resolve in his two younger brothers' eyes, Liu Bei drew a deep breath and nodded firmly. Then he turned and picked up his Twin Swords.
He was no craven who clung to life and feared death!
But just then, footsteps sounded outside the tent, accompanied by the metallic clang of blades against iron armor. Numerous shadows flashed past.
All three were startled. Liu Bei stepped out of the tent.
At some point, hundreds of heavily armored soldiers bearing sharp weapons had surrounded the tent, sealing it so tightly that not even water could pass through. Not far away, bowmen and crossbowmen stood ready for battle!
Leading them were none other than the two generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou!
Looking at the three armed men, Yan Liang grinned. "Where might you be going, Governor?"
His words laid his murderous intent bare!
Chapter 54: Yan Liang and Wen Chou's Shock
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