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Liu Yan and Chen Gong chatted idly for a while, then excused himself to rest due to feeling unwell, just as Tian Feng happened to arrive. Although Chen Gong was confident that his side was surely leaning towards Liu Bei, he still did not want to be rude to Tian Feng who had co in person.
"Since Brother Weishuo is not feeling well, please take more rest. Tian Yuanhao has arrived too, and while the rging of our two families is inevitable, I cannot be discourteous as the other party has co in person. I hope Brother Weishuo will forgive ," Chen Gong said with a smile, without a hint of doubt about Liu Yan’s claim of ill health. Of course, if Liu Yan had not ntioned feeling unwell, Chen Gong would not have bothered visiting Tian Feng.
Liu Yan secretly wiped off a cold sweat, then calmly paid his respects to Chen Gong, "Gongtai, there’s no need for such words. What is there for to forgive? In the future, we will serve in the sa court, and I will still need Gongtai’s support and guidance."
Having been a noted scholar for a long ti, Liu Yan was well-practiced at saying the right things to the right people. Although he had his own guesses, he presented a completely serene and cheerful face, leaving Chen Gong smiling contentedly as well.
"Well said, well said," Chen Gong said, stroking his beard with a face full of joy. "I am flattered by your kind words. Since Brother Weishuo is feeling unwell, I will no longer disturb you."
After Chen Gong finished giving instructions and left, Liu Yan beca utterly panicked. On one hand, he cursed Chen Xi for being unpredictable, and on the other hand, he thought about how to slip away unnoticed. Fortunately, since Chen Gong himself had the deanor of a noted scholar and considered that Lyu Bu would side with Liu Bei, he never suspected Liu Yan might have other plans. Naturally, Liu Yan took the opportunity of Chen Gong’s eting with Tian Feng to sneak out without anyone noticing.
When Lyu Bu and Zhang Liao returned, both were silent. After a long while, Lyu Bu spoke up, "Wen Yuan, do you think Chen Zichuan’s plotting is really that astounding? To think he laid his sches so early on, causing my spirit to be greatly disturbed."
Zhang Liao offered a bitter smile. Those involved are blinded, while bystanders see clearly. Now that he had sorted everything out, Zhang Liao could see many things clearly. Initially, Chen Xi had simply wanted to create a good karma or casually complicate things for Li Ru, fostering Dong Zhuo’s suspicions further. This was apparent when Lyu Bu questioned him, and he seed montarily confused before realizing the truth.
As for the current situation, Zhang Liao could only say it was a mix-up. Who would have imagined that Lyu Bu’s obsession would cause him to regard the letter as extrely important, resulting in such an effect?
Of course, Zhang Liao could not voice these thoughts. He still wished to join Liu Bei’s side. A benevolent monarch might not achieve great things, but if successful, it would be wonderful for his followers. "When all the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked"—no virtuous generals or scholars wished to face such an end.
"I’ve heard people say that Chen Zichuan prepares for a rainy day. Probably that’s just it. However, your strike also left him greatly disturbed," sighed Zhang Liao. "But at this stage, let’s just keep moving forward. Strategist Chen makes a good point. It’s hard for us to survive between Yuan Liu."
"I’m going back to Bingzhou!" Lyu Bu turned to Zhang Liao and declared.
"Fight or negotiate?" Zhang Liao asked with a wry smile. He already had the intention to leave. If Lyu Bu’s answer now did not align with his own principles of faith and righteousness, he would depart after returning to camp, then head to Chen Xi’s main camp.
"The preemptive preparations of Chen Zichuan?" Lyu Bu lifted the Sky Piercer halberd in his hand, its bright blade reflecting his valiant features. "Why must we fight? If the Central Plains do not suit , then I’ll continue to be the Flying General of the Northern Frontier, the War God of the Northern Frontier. I want the Hu People to lose their nerve at the ntion of my na!"
"This Central Plains, I’ll leave to Yuan Benchu and Liu Xuande. I’ll be the Flying General of the Northern Frontier, the War God. I’ll not partake in the battle for the Central Plains!" Lyu Bu proudly declared, "Northern Frontier Youyan, with its flurry of frost and snow, the Extre North boundless, let , Lyu Fengxian, be the first Pioneer!"
"My desire is to follow you to the depths below. This desire is unchanging, this heart unshifting, only this is eternal!" Zhang Liao halted his horse and then said solemnly, "This is a path replete with hardship, Fengxian. Are you certain you want to keep going?"
"I want to retake Yunzhong, Shuofang, Wuyuan, Dingxiang!" Lyu Bu turned to gaze at Zhang Liao, "I want to tell the Northern Huns and the Xianbei that these lands belong to the Han people. Bingzhou is made up of Nine Counties, not five. I will reclaim those places, I want to show the Han people that the greatest province in this realm is not Yizhou, but Bingzhou in the north!"
"Reclaim them? What if the people of Bingzhou do not acknowledge that?" Zhang Liao’s words hit Lyu Bu where it hurt, "I’ve heard that Yuan Benchu is doing well there."
"Yuan Benchu, it’s not that I look down on him, but he can’t reclaim them. He can only hold them. He might be able to hold on to Taiyuan, Shangdang, Shangjun, West River, and part of Yann, but he can’t take them back! His goal is the Central Plains; he can’t reclaim them!" Lyu Bu said mockingly, "As for our fellow countryn, I believe they will recognize us!"
"Alright, I’m with you!" Zhang Liao extended his hand to give Lyu Bu a high five, "Just like when we gloriously left Bingzhou, rember your words. We’ll gloriously take back Yunzhong, Shuofang, Wuyuan, Dingxiang, and half of my old ho in Yann!"
The Northern Huns and the Xianbei had no idea that on the lands of the Central Plains, there were now two individuals determined to recapture places such as Shuofang, Wuyuan, and Yunzhong from them. But even if they knew, they would scornfully disregard it. With the Central Plains embroiled in chaos and no spare attention to give, reclaiming lost territories is far more challenging than defending them.
"Alright, I think Gongzheng and the others have longed to return to Bingzhou. This ti, we are going to fight our way back!" At this mont, Lyu Bu let go of all his obsessions.
"Then we co to the last question, Fengxian. This matter concerns our future choices. Returning to Bingzhou will inevitably lead to conflict with Yuan Shao. How should we choose?" Zhang Liao looked at Lyu Bu, seeking his opinion.
"Gongtai will take care of these matters! For now, we only need to return to Bingzhou. Let others play with the Central Plains!" Lyu Bu said casually. After shedding his final burden, Lyu Bu felt an imnse sense of relief. His previously clouded mind now began to clear up.
"So be it," Zhang Liao nodded, silently sighing to himself without saying anything. Returning to Bingzhou is not easy!
Zhang Liao’s question would influence their future decisions, but since Lyu Bu had answered that way, Zhang Liao didn’t feel like asking further. Perhaps ignorance and striving solely for one’s ideals were also good choices. Yann, his holand, now lay under the blades of the Hu People. Jiuyuan, Lyu Bu’s holand, had been completely occupied by the Hu People.
This was indeed why Lyu Bu was reluctant to return to Bingzhou. He had taken the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry with him but left Bingzhou to be occupied by Foreign Clans, his kinsfolk displaced. Now he had co to a realization, acknowledging his mistakes, he resolved to correct them. What was lost must be reclaid!
Sinking the Bingzhou populace into subjugation under Foreign Clan rule is a disgrace. Those who dare not face this are cowards, even if such a coward could traverse the world single-handedly on horseback. He would still be a coward. But now, Lyu Bu was determined to recapture his lost dignity, to prove himself!
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