The army had not gone far when a Cavalrymen with a Flying Dragon Banner on his back suddenly came galloping toward them along the official road.
"Urgent dispatch over five hundred li! Duke Wen, Lü Bu, receive the Imperial Edict!"
The Cavalrymen reined in before the army and shouted in a somewhat hoarse voice.
Though Lü Bu, Zhao Yun, Chen Gong, Sima Yi, and the others were surprised, none dared delay. They immediately dismounted to receive the Imperial Edict.
"By His Majesty's decree: the Zhongshan Zhen Family is suspected of plotting the murder of an imperial envoy. Duke Wen, Lü Bu, is hereby ordered to lead ten thousand elite troops to Wuji County at once, arrest the entire Zhen Clan, and escort them back to the imperial capital to await trial!"
"Kill any who resist without mercy!"
"Let this be obeyed as law!"
After reading the Imperial Edict aloud, the Cavalrymen carried it in both hands to Lü Bu and placed it in his hands.
As Lü Bu stared at the Imperial Edict in his hands, his mind struggled to catch up. He looked blankly at Sima Yi and Chen Gong beside him.
"Military Advisor, Gongtai, did that edict just tell me to lead troops to arrest... the entire Zhen Clan?"
Lü Bu asked uncertainly.
He wondered whether he had misheard.
Though he knew little of politics, he understood the Zhen Clan's standing and importance. After all, the Zhen Clan supplied both his army's equipment and his soldiers' pay.
Moreover, the Zhen Clan had been among the first meritorious supporters to rally behind the Son of Heaven. Without them, the Son of Heaven could never have defeated Yuan Shao.
Yet now the Son of Heaven had ordered him to lead troops to arrest the entire Zhen Clan?
Chen Gong and